Gwendilyn, 7th level character (title change)

[Thanee]

To take full advantage of Bladesong, I need Gwendilyn's intelligence to be as high as possible.

Have to look that up, not overly familiar with that ability... but ok.

+2 int, -2 con for the grey elf subtype (the high elf subtype is +2 dex, -2 con)

Ah, now I see where my confusion comes from... you did the Grey Elf wrong.

Grey Elf modifiers are -2 Str +2 Dex -2 Con +2 Int

+2 Int -2 Con is the Sun Elf in FR, but not the Grey Elf (MM).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

Ok, will drop her back to 10th level. This will, however, devastate her skills.

EDIT: 65 skill points lost (52 at 1st level rogue, 13 at 2nd level rogue) which is almost half of all her skill points.

 

[Thanee]

The Bladesong only grants a bonus equal to your Bladesinger class level (max is your Int bonus), so you don't really need that high Int unless you are much higher level.

I'd put the ability scores like this...

Str 15-2 Dex 17+2 Con 15-2 Int 18+2 Wis 11 Cha 12

You can use the 4th and 8th level ability bonus point to improve Dex and Con, then afterwards improve Int from 12th onwards.

Get magic items to boost your Dex and Int primarily, but don't neglect Con, which is very important to have as well.

Classes:

1st - 3rd Swashbuckler
4th Wizard
5th - 7th Elf Paragon
8th+ Bladesinger

Feats:

1st Dodge
1st (bonus) Weapon Finesse
3rd Combat Expertise
6th Combat Casting
6th (bonus) Weapon Focus (rapier)

Bye
Thanee

P.S. Funny enough, my PnP Sorceress actually has better ability scores (18, 17, 17, 15, 12, 10) rolled with standard 4d6.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

Since you have worked me to death for the last 5 hours (chuckles ) I will take your higher stats for Gwindilyn promptly upon her next makeover.

I've had it. Too many makeovers of Gwendilyn. Too much arithmetic and starting over from scratch and flipping through a (literal) pile of books. My brain has gone numb. My eyes do not focus.
I'm hitting the sack!

Goodnight, and thank you for your help, Thanee. See you tomorrow night!

Edena_of_Neith

 

[Thanee]

Night? Heh. It's 1:30 pm here.

Good Night!

Bye
Thanee

 

[monboesen]

This would be my take of a 11th level Gwendolyn. She was build as:

1st: swashbuckler
2nd: wizard
3-5: elf paragon
6-7: swashbuckler
8-11: bladesinger

She spent 66.000 gp on equipment, the standard wealth for a 11th level character.

Gwendolyn is a decent defensive mobile fighter and second rate arcane spellcaster.

Looking ahead the next feat would be arcane strike and then improved critical. The last three levels (18-20) would be either wizard or eldritch knight.

Lady Gwendilyn, Bladesinger of Varnaith Character level 11 (swashbuckler 3rd / wizard 1st / elven paragon 3rd / bladesinger 4th)
Medium humanoid (Sun elf)
Hit Dice: 3d10+7d8+1d4+33 (87 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: Move 40' (8 squares)
Armor Class: 21, 21 touch, 12 flat-footed
Base Attack/Grapple: +9/+11
Attack: Rapier melee +16 (1d6+9+1d6 electrical, 15-20/x2) or wand of magic missile (5d4+5)
Full Attack: Rapier melee +16/+11 (1d6+9+1d6 electrical, 15-20/x2) or wand of magic missile (5d4+5)
Space/Reach: 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Spells
Special Qualities: Bladesong style, lesser spellsong, song of celerity (2nd), insightful strike, racial immunity (sleep), low-light vision.
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +14, Will +9
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 20, Con 16, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 11
Skills: Balance +15, Bluff +5, Climb +9, Concentration +12 (+16 combat casting), Diplomacy +8, Jump +20, Knowledge (arcane) +19, Listen +9, Perform (dancing) +2, Perform (singing) +2, Sense Motive +6, Spellcraft +19, Spot +11, Swim +5, Tumble +21
Feats: Dodge (1st), combat expertise (3rd), combat casting (6th), practised spellcaster (9th), weapon finesse (swashbuckler 1st), scribe scroll (wizard 1st), weapon focus - rapier (paragon 2nd)

Description: 4 feet 10 inches, 70 pounds, frail beauty, long raven dark hair, grey eyes, milky skin

COMBAT
Gwendolyn will at most times keep a mage armor spell up (Armor Class: 25, 25 touch, 16 flat-footed). If she expects that combat is imminent, she will cast shield as well (Armor Class: 29, 29 touch, 20 flat-footed).

In combat her focus will be to tie up dangerous attackers in melee. She will often use combat expertise to increase her already impressive AC (-5 attack bonus, +5 AC) even more and then attempt to weaken the foe with spells (ray of enfeeblement, hideous laughter, hold person, ghoul touch) before attacking in earnest.

If forced into ranged combat she will use her assortment of scrolls and wand to good effect.

Spells (Sp): DC to resist powers is 17 + spell level.

Spells memorized
0th: dancing lights, daze, ghost sound

1st: mage armor, shield, ray of enfeeblement*2, color spray

2nd: ghoul touch, protection from arrows, tasha's hideous laughter, glittedust

3rd: hold person, slow

Spells known
0th: all PHB spells

1st: mage armor, shield, shocking grasp, color spray, ray of enfeeblement, protection from evil, enlarge person

2nd: ghoul touch, protection from arrows, tasha's hideous laughter, glitterdust, resist energy, web, mirror image

3rd: displacement, hold person, vampiric touch, slow, haste, dispel magic, fly, lightning bolt

EQUIPMENT
Gloves of dexterity +2, Headband of intellect +2, Keen shocking rapier +1, Boots of striding and springing, Ring of protection +2, Cloak of protection +2, Ring of counterspells (dispel magic), Amulet of health +2, Wand of magic missile (9th), Various scrolls (at least 1 scroll of each spell known) and potions of 8.000 gp value.

 

[William Ronald]

I generally agree with this statement:

You are now taking a tumble into another pitfall in character creation. You are trying to make Gwendolin a jack of all trades. In 3ed that translates into "incompetent at most things".

Based on monboesen's latest design of Gwendilyn, we seem to have someone who is indeed a decent mobile defensive fighter and a second rate arcane caster. She could spend much of her time in a combat tying up her enemies, and creating opportunities for her allies. So, while she is keeping one foe occupied and moving about the battlefield, her allies can position herself.

A brute force melee specialist would appreciate Gwendilyn's swift movements which can create many opportunities for flanking bonuses and softening up an opponent.

A divine or arcane caster would appreciate someone who can be an active defender with some knowledge of magic. Plus someone who can paralyze a foe with ghoul touch can set up a few good tactical situations. (Some enemies may end up spending resources trying to help out an incapacitated ally.) Gwendilyn can take out some opponents, allowing the casters to concentrate on others.

A rogue would be able to work with Gwendilyn to set up flanking bonuses against foes. Similarly, she could also scribe scrolls to buff up some of her allies. Gwendilyn will not likely be the best character in most parties in terms of spellcasting or fighting. However, she will still be a very effective and valuable ally -- and a threat to her foes.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

(takes a look at Arcane Strike, and eyes go wide)

I would seriously argue that a flaw such as meager fortitude (-3 to fort saves) is worth it, if you are taking Arcane Strike in return.

Let's see: I sacrifice a 3rd level spell ...

Full Round Attack, +3 attack bonus on all attacks, +3d4 damage to each and every attack.

 

[Thanee]

Just erase that thought about the flaws from your mind!

And yes, Arcane Strike is a pretty powerful feat. It turns my pure sorceress into a fighting machine (well, that and a feeew spells).

Bye
Thanee

 

[William Ronald]

Just erase that thought about the flaws from your mind!

And yes, Arcane Strike is a pretty powerful feat. It turns my pure sorceress into a fighting machine (well, that and a feeew spells).

Bye
Thanee

True Strike is a good one to cast and use for the first attack. I think flaws are generally not worth it for PC adventurers.

Also, remember that a sorceror or wizard's familiar can deliver touch attack spells and create flanking bonuses.