How can I fix my Will save?

[Venator]

So I've recently hit 9th level with my Fighter (archer) and I'm finding that my poor Will save is simply devastating.

I'm coming to you, EN World, for ideas on how to bring the save up to the levels where I don't auto-fail against the "tougher" bad guys.

I'm currently sitting at +4. 3 from levels and an additional +1 from Wisdom.

Without looking to the Book of Nine Swords for solutions (doesn't fit the game), what are some of the non-obvious ways I can go about boosting my save?

Some of the more obvious ideas include:

Iron Will - +2 to all Will saves. Not a Fighter bonus feat. A +2 bonus for a non-bonus feat slot is pretty poor IMO. I feel that if it were +3 it would be a strong candidate and at +4 it would definitely worth taking.

Combat Focus - Combat Form feat from PHB2. Its the prereq for the other Combat Form feats. It provides a +2 bonus to Will saves, the bonus increases to +4 if you have 3 or more Combat Form feats (basically requires lvl 15 for this character). All combat Form feats can be taken as Fighter bonus feats. The downside is that I must land a successful attack before the bonus kicks in. Often times the surprise action is the Confusion, Charm, Slow, or Stun effect.

Cloak of Resistance +X - Obviously a great save boosting item, especially for an archer. Unfortunately for our party, money is in very short supply. Having the money to buy even a Cloak of Resistance +1 doesn’t seem very likely in the near future.

 

[Grog]

Combat Focus - Combat Form feat from PHB2. Its the prereq for the other Combat Form feats. It provides a +2 bonus to Will saves, the bonus increases to +4 if you have 3 or more Combat Form feats (basically requires lvl 15 for this character). All combat Form feats can be taken as Fighter bonus feats. The downside is that I must land a successful attack before the bonus kicks in. Often times the surprise action is the Confusion, Charm, Slow, or Stun effect.

If you're using the PHB2, I understand there's a pretty broken feat in there that lets you roll two Will saves and take the better of the two. Someone did the math on it and it essentially gives you a +7 to your Will save for the cost of a single feat.

 

[nittanytbone]

Pick up a few levels in a class with a strong Will save.

Occult Slayer jumps to mind immediately. Ruathor and Human Paragon could work too.

If your CHA is decent, a 4 level cleric dip could be nice to boost saves, pick up spells, and abuse divine feats at the cost of 1 point of BAB.

 

[blargney the second]

If you're using the PHB2, I understand there's a pretty broken feat in there that lets you roll two Will saves and take the better of the two. Someone did the math on it and it essentially gives you a +7 to your Will save for the cost of a single feat.

Prereqs: Endurance and Iron Will.
Benefit: When Will-saving against mind-affecting or fear effects, take the better of two rolls.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Don't forget buffs from casters.
Owl's wisdom (2nd level, +4 wisdom 1minute/level) and resistance (0 level, +1 all saves 1 minute) could help you. Short duration means you'll need to know you're to be fighting a caster (or opponenet who targets will) soon.

If you're worried about fear effects, remove fear (1st level, +4 saves, can effect multiple allies) is pretty good.
Spell resistance is a 5th level cleric spell and could help you deal with your problem.

Those are the ones off the top of my head that an ally could cast who is also level nine.

 

[Venator]

Occult Slayer was an idea for a while, but the flavor of the class is a bit to extreme for our group.

Anyhow, the character really is a fighter. I plan to take him 1-18 or 1-20 as a fighter, so I'd really like to stay away from dips and PrC's.


I'll look into that feat that allows the re-roll. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Mistwell]

Extended Heroism spell would help. A 10th level wizard's casting would last 3 1/3 hours, which is probably more than enough to take care of your battles for the day in a dungeon setting.

Heroism
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

This spell imbues a single creature with great bravery and morale in battle. The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.

 

[Perun]

Steadfast Determination (also PHII). It has Endurance as a prerequisite, and let's you use your Con modifier for Will saves.

Add Iron Will, and you can also take Indomitable Soul (the feat Grog and blargney the second mentioned).

 

[werk]

If a resistance item is out of the question, then getting a wisdom boosting item to go with it...

 

[Quartz]

Try multiclassing to Monk or Knight or Cleric.