Fine tune my Spellsword!

[Praeden]

I could use a bit of help here guys. My Spellsword has just hit 15th level, and I'm trying to decide how to develop the character's abilities.

Apart from some compelling campaign/flavour reasons, one key idea behind taking Spellsword levels is to make my wizard a little bit more robust. Leaving aside the issue of combat effectiveness for the moment, those extra hitpoints, better Fort save, and the boost to AC from wearing armour increase his survivability even when he's casting spells from the back line. Doubtless there are better ways of achieving this, but I guess I just like the concept of a tougher, armour wearing arcane caster.

That said, I want to continue to be an effective party member. Now, for the first time, I will be casting lower level spells than a pure caster. To compensate for this, I need to become a better melee fighter.

With this in mind, take a look at the character posted below. I've already added most of the 15th level improvements, as I would do them. However, I've left my new feat choices blank, because this is the bit I'm really not sure about.

 

[Praeden]

testing...

 

[Rkhet]

If you've bothered spending a feat on Power Attack, I'm guessing you're willing to mix it up in melee, yes? In that case, Arcane Strike is almost an absolute must for a gish.

Extend/Persistent is pretty good, too. Another must-have for the gish. Though I'd only get it with access to 8th level spells (for, say, Persistant Wraith Strike.)

Assume Supernatural Ability is pretty great, but that requires two things: access to Savage Species, and willingness to mess with the Polymorph line of cheese.

As for 9th level spells: first find out how long the campaign is going to last. Are you going into Epic, or will you be forced to retire at lvl 20? If the latter, then I wouldn't bother. Just use scrolls.

 

[Praeden]

EDIT: Thanks for your very helpful advice, I've updated my character above.

Assume Supernatural Ability is pretty great, but that requires two things: access to Savage Species, and willingness to mess with the Polymorph line of cheese.

I'm certainly not adverse to using polymorph - in fact it's something I'd quite like. I will have a look at this if I can.

As for 9th level spells: first find out how long the campaign is going to last. Are you going into Epic, or will you be forced to retire at lvl 20? If the latter, then I wouldn't bother. Just use scrolls.

You're absolutely right here; unless we go to Epic, I'd be perfectly happy casting 8th level spells!

EDIT: The word is that we're unlikely to go beyond 20th level (in fact events may dictate that the campaign finishes even before then). I'm starting to think that 9th level spells might not be worth it...


Thanks for your feedback!

 

[Rkhet]

Arcane Strike: Complete Warrior
Persistent Spell: Complete Arcane

Read through the Complete books. They're excellent for twinking.

 

[Whimsical]

If you take Qucken Spell feat, you can fill your 5th level slots with quickened true strikes. So when you move then attack an opponent, you can power attack for full while attacking on the defensive and still hit. You don't even want to charge. It's also good for damaging the high AC opponent that no one else can hit.

 

[Praeden]

If you take Qucken Spell feat, you can fill your 5th level slots with quickened true strikes. So when you move then attack an opponent, you can power attack for full while attacking on the defensive and still hit. You don't even want to charge. It's also good for damaging the high AC opponent that no one else can hit.

This is one tactic I'm looking forward to using! Unfortunately, my spellbook is missing a few of key spells at the moment, True Strike being one of them. I hope to obtain it by the time I go up another level, whereupon i can take a 7th level of Alienist and get Quicken Spell.

 

[zypherillius]

this might be some help

try finding a sword of spell storing, thatll help with both your wizard and spellsword levels, you can hit with the sword, do melee damage, then channel your spell through the sword, and hit with the spell in the sword, its a pretty good combination. ive seen it run, it hurts being on the receiving end of a d8+str long sword, then the spellsword channel, and a 10d6 fireball coming out the end as a stored spell, insane damage.
depending on your spells known, you could always run an improved critical favoured weapon, or improved critical ray.
if i think of more, ill update the post, but try reading the unearthed arcana, theres some good stuff in there, and some excellent ideas in the phb II.

 

[szilard]

It might be worth taking Practiced Spellcaster at 15th and a couple levels of Fighter after that - both for the feats and to make Practiced Spellcaster do some work for you...

-Stuart

 

[Praeden]

try finding a sword of spell storing, thatll help with both your wizard and spellsword levels, you can hit with the sword, do melee damage, then channel your spell through the sword, and hit with the spell in the sword, its a pretty good combination. ive seen it run, it hurts being on the receiving end of a d8+str long sword, then the spellsword channel, and a 10d6 fireball coming out the end as a stored spell, insane damage.
depending on your spells known, you could always run an improved critical favoured weapon, or improved critical ray.
if i think of more, ill update the post, but try reading the unearthed arcana, theres some good stuff in there, and some excellent ideas in the phb II.

Some interesting ideas and pointers, thanks! I'll get a channel spell ability eventually anyway, but you're right that the sword does sound good. I might even be able to craft it myself.

I thought long and hard about Improved Critical (weapon), but the problem is that I haven't really settled on a particular weapon. Weapon Focus is out for the same reason. Improved Critical (ray) might not be a good idea; without Point Blank Shot or Precise Shot, I probably shouldn't be focusing too much on ray spells.