Eldritch Knight PrC bonus feat

[JoeGKushner]

So what's a good feat for the Eldritch's Knight first level?

I've got Weapon Focus Greatsword, Calisite Elemental Caster (+1 level fire spells), Empower Spell, Sudden Maximize and of course, Combat Casting and Scribe Scroll.

I was thinking of taking weapon focus with rays. My guy prefers to avoid melee combat but I figured if he has to go into it, the greatsword is the way to go hence the original weapon focus.

 

[Voadam]

If you are going rays as a focus then point blank shot is generally better IME for getting that +1 to damage and you can start carrying a bow if you wanted or be flexible to pick up thrown weapons as loot.

Dodge is not bad either, AC is always good.

 

[Voadam]

Improved initiative is another good one for any character, getting off the rays or buff first is a good thing.

 

[Thanee]

If you are relying heavily on ray spells for attacking, very little beats Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot in terms of attack bonus.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

I've got Weapon Focus Greatsword, Calisite Elemental Caster (+1 level fire spells), Empower Spell, Sudden Maximize and of course, Combat Casting and Scribe Scroll.

It seems like Weapon Focus: Greatsword and Combat Casting is roughly for the same situations... not the best synergy there.

I'd drop one or the other and replace it with something else.

Bye
Thanee

 

[JoeGKushner]

I don't necessarily see Combat Casting and Weapon Focus too out of odds. Many spells that can be placed on a melee weapon like magic weapon, (and greater magic weapon), can be used in melee and it saves me the trouble of the 5' step back.

Point Blank Shot might be a good idea and I've thought about Dodge. It's just that my AC is so bad (14, 2 from dex, 2 from bracers of armor), that if I've got to get into melee, I don't think that the +1 is going to be of great help.

 

[Scion]

why combat casting and not skill focus (concentration)? the second is way better. You lose a +1 off of manifesting on the defensive, but gain a +3 boost on everything else.

Although I think that cleave and arcane strike could really help you out. Charge up your weapon and start swinging. You can have a big bonus to hit and damage, it could really help getting those cleaves in and make them that much more potent. Plus, if you get enough attacks a round it starts doing more damage than the spell would have anyway, nothing but good right?

 

[Thanee]

Right, Arcane Strike is really cool, if you gonna use melee weapons.

Bye
Thanee

 

[JoeGKushner]

why combat casting and not skill focus (concentration)? the second is way better. You lose a +1 off of manifesting on the defensive, but gain a +3 boost on everything else.

Although I think that cleave and arcane strike could really help you out. Charge up your weapon and start swinging. You can have a big bonus to hit and damage, it could really help getting those cleaves in and make them that much more potent. Plus, if you get enough attacks a round it starts doing more damage than the spell would have anyway, nothing but good right?

Didn't know how long the campaign was going to last originally. Haven't had a reason to use concentration outside of combat yet anyway that didn't allow me to either take ten or even twenty.

Arcane Strike sounds like a good one though. Is that available as a fighter bonus feat?

 

[Scion]

Never had to make a concentration check to keep the spell via damage, mounted, grappled, or any number of other cases? must be nice

I am afraid that my suggestions were more for a guy who wanted to get into melee. With power attack, cleave, and arcane strike (no, arcane strike is not a fighter feat unfortunately for this case) along with the two handed weapon and a few other boosting spells you could be doing 'massive' damage per round.

So, I was going more for a melee guy, and thinking you could use something like psychic reformation or something.

You could always grab weapon specialization(ray) along with weapon focus(ray) later on and ray specialiazation. There are various implementations of the last all over the place.

It probably doesnt help much, but for the most part you are looking for first tier feats that dont mess with spellcasting and will help a guy who doesnt terribly like to get into melee. Most fighter feats wont help there

The above was for a cool melee fighter guy who can dish out massive damage in short periods of time. you could also grab the whirlwind feat somehow for this guy, which would just be incredible in the right circumstances.

Anyway, luck to you! If you are planning on keeping the character for some time I would recommend figuring out a higher tier feat, or feats, that you want to get and working towards them. Long term goals are always fun! Psychic reformation is your friend.