Duskblade and Spiked Chain

[Gray Lensman]

In doing up some single class NPCs for my friend's game I got to thinking about the Duskblade's Arcane Channeling and the Spiked Chains ability to threaten both close and reach.

Think it would be a good combination?

And if I did choose to Multiclass or Prestige Later (all NPCs in the Campaign DO Advance) what would let me improve the character's concept of warrior/sorcerer alive and growing equally?

 

[xigbar]

In doing up some single class NPCs for my friend's game I got to thinking about the Duskblade's Arcane Channeling and the Spiked Chains ability to threaten both close and reach.

Think it would be a good combination?

And if I did choose to Multiclass or Prestige Later (all NPCs in the Campaign DO Advance) what would let me improve the character's concept of warrior/sorcerer alive and growing equally?

Abjurant Champion is generally a nice PrC for Duskblades. I think there's a wilingl deformity feat that gives you an extra 5ft reach, which complements the concept.

 

[Dandu]

There aren't that many good prestige classes for a duskblade, as you lose out on good class features. Kinda like being a druid.

There's a lot of advice on the Duskblade Handbook.

 

[Shin Okada]

Arcane Channeling is good. But if you are to give spiked chain to a Duskblade, consider let him use some special attacks such as Disarm and Trip.

Swift casting True Strike and Disarm will certainly remove PC's favorite weapon from his hand. And Duskblade has Stand spell in his list. Thus even when he fails in tripping attempt, all he need is to use it for standing up.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Whirlwind Attack with lots of reach once you get to Duskblade 13 isn't bad, either. RAW you can only hit the same enemy with a channeled spell once per action anyway.

 

[Dandu]

The Whirling (+1) property gives Whirlwind Attack 3/day, without needing any of the sucky prerequisite feats.

 

[Empirate]

Duskblades will usually want to take the following feats ASAP: Knowledge Devotion, Obtain Familiar, Power Attack, Arcane Strike. So at least at first that Exotic Weapon Proficiency, as well as Improved Trip or whatever you wanna do with your chain, may be a little hard to fit in.

As usual, I'll go and praise the Guisarme as the best possible melee weapon: it's martial (meaning you don't waste a feat on your feat-strapped Duskblade), it has reach, it can trip, and it's two-handed. That's really all you need. You want to threaten adjacent foes? Get thyself some armor spikes, and be well satisfied. Also, use that 5' step.

 

[Dandu]

The Passive Way monk in the SRD gives Combat Expertise and Improved Trip in the first two levels. One could combine monk levels with Duskblade, Ur Priest, and Sacred Fist to create something known as... THE SACRILEGIOUS FIST!!!