Alzrius
The EN World kitten
Spes Magna Games has posted an alternate rule wherein spellcasters of a higher level can gain a bonus to their spellcasting DCs by increasing the casting time to a full-round action.
feat selection help
- Thread starter freyar
- Start date
OK is this a 3.0 or a 3.5 game?
Feat choices matter as well as the fact that the 3.5 bard was substantially changed from 3.0.
StreamOfTheSky
Adventurer
Ultimate Magus was in C.Mage I think. Sublime Chord is in C.Arcane.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Sorry, I should specify: it's a 3.5 game, but I figure I can convert needed 3.0 material. I'm also not looking for super-optimization here; it's a campaign I run for my wife who has 2 PCs, both elfs -- one the bard/wiz, one a fighter. The bard/wiz does quite well in social situations, but we're looking to help her feel a bit better in combat, a little closer to par with the fighter. The buffing suggestion upthread is probably the best for that, so I'll look for feats to help with bardic music or social skills.
The character in question has Str 9 Dex 12 Con 12 Int 16 Wis 10 Cha 15 and took Toughness and Weapon Finesse for previous feats. Toughness for the usual caster hp reasons, I think WF just because she's been pretty conservative with spell use. (And the elvish rapier proficiency isn't bad.) But you see that optimization isn't a big issue.
Just trying to think ahead a little for the character, as the fighter is somewhat mapped out already. Any ideas are welcome.
The character in question has Str 9 Dex 12 Con 12 Int 16 Wis 10 Cha 15 and took Toughness and Weapon Finesse for previous feats. Toughness for the usual caster hp reasons, I think WF just because she's been pretty conservative with spell use. (And the elvish rapier proficiency isn't bad.) But you see that optimization isn't a big issue.
Just trying to think ahead a little for the character, as the fighter is somewhat mapped out already. Any ideas are welcome.
Herzog
Adventurer
I'm seconding the Ultimate Magus Prestige Class from the Complete Mage.
It progresses two arcane casting classes, one prepared, one spontaneous, and also increases your caster level several times. (effectively an in-build Practiced Spellcaster for both classes....)
It does not, however, increase Bardic Music or Bardic Knowledge
As to her low DC/low to hit:
might be an open door, but I'd say Weapon Focus (Ray) for the to hit rolls, or Spell Focus to increase the DC.
You'd have to make sure she picks the school that's failing saves the most, though. Or houserule that it applies to all schools.....
If she's going for Ultimate Magus thought, one of the Prerequisites is a MetaMagic Feat. so she'd have to get one of those.
Complete Mage also has the Feat Melodic Casting, which allows you to cast while performing a Bardic Music effect. Might be handy too!
It progresses two arcane casting classes, one prepared, one spontaneous, and also increases your caster level several times. (effectively an in-build Practiced Spellcaster for both classes....)
It does not, however, increase Bardic Music or Bardic Knowledge
As to her low DC/low to hit:
might be an open door, but I'd say Weapon Focus (Ray) for the to hit rolls, or Spell Focus to increase the DC.
You'd have to make sure she picks the school that's failing saves the most, though. Or houserule that it applies to all schools.....
If she's going for Ultimate Magus thought, one of the Prerequisites is a MetaMagic Feat. so she'd have to get one of those.
Complete Mage also has the Feat Melodic Casting, which allows you to cast while performing a Bardic Music effect. Might be handy too!
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Herobizkit
Adventurer
I would normally suggest TWF at this point but her Dex is far too low.
Give her an item that duplicates the Persistent Spell feat. Then have her persist cat's grace once she is able to cast it. Poof. +4 Dex, all day. That should help her melee and ranged combat. And, of course, summoning pals to help flank etc. is always a good idea.
As a random aside, with the same stats, I would have gone Bard/Sorcerer before Bard/Mage - more spells/day at a light cost of limited spell selection. Heck, I would have even gone Bard/Warlock - great Cha synergy and an unlimited ranged touch attack. That alone would solve the damage output issue.
Give her an item that duplicates the Persistent Spell feat. Then have her persist cat's grace once she is able to cast it. Poof. +4 Dex, all day. That should help her melee and ranged combat. And, of course, summoning pals to help flank etc. is always a good idea.
As a random aside, with the same stats, I would have gone Bard/Sorcerer before Bard/Mage - more spells/day at a light cost of limited spell selection. Heck, I would have even gone Bard/Warlock - great Cha synergy and an unlimited ranged touch attack. That alone would solve the damage output issue.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Well, I've often thought Bard/Sorc would have been better, but I was new to the hobby when we started and didn't have Sorcs in the setting. :/ And I don't own the warlock (complete arcane, maybe?). Ultimate Magus is out for the same reasons. Like I said, optimization is not of the prime importance, and she's quite attached to the character. Just trying to get a few ideas.
pawsplay
Hero
Spell Focus (Enchantment or Transmutation) seems like a no-brainer. Magical Aptitude might be a good follow up; +2 to Spellcraft is handy, and Use Magic Device will allow the character to make better use of spell trigger items. After that, Practiced Caster is probably a must for both classes, as at higher levels, durations, dispelling, and SR become prominent issues.
Using core only, and assuming bard 8/wizard 8 as being somewhere near the end of the campaign, I think you would be looking at no-save illusions, debuffing rays, speedbump summoning, and enchantments vs. low will opponents as your mainstays for casting. Apart from that, Wizard spell trigger items would be a good investment, and some healing items (bards can use wands of serious wounds).
Using core only, and assuming bard 8/wizard 8 as being somewhere near the end of the campaign, I think you would be looking at no-save illusions, debuffing rays, speedbump summoning, and enchantments vs. low will opponents as your mainstays for casting. Apart from that, Wizard spell trigger items would be a good investment, and some healing items (bards can use wands of serious wounds).
Herobizkit
Adventurer
Well, you're the DM. Picture this: Your student of magic, through fate, discovery of a magic item, divine intervention, what have you, infuses the PC with raw magic power. By doing so, the PC can now fling certain spells on a whim.
What really happens:
She trades her Wizard levels for Sorcerer levels straight up. Her spell book becomes a book of one-use scrolls. She gains more spell slots. The only downer is that she cannot 'learn' spells any longer. This may not bother her so much given that her Bard side is already a spontaneous spellcaster.
Yep, Complete Arcane. You may wish to consider getting this book if your lady wants to play a Wizard... lots of useful feats and more spells to choose from (including those insidious Orb spells I mentioned in an earlier post).
Note that 3.x does not work like this at all. A spell book is not the same a scroll and a character cannot cast a spell from a spell book like he can a scroll (or he could in 2nd ed). It is merely a set of writings as instructions.
