Leveling up - Edit: Final Stats Posted

[Cedric]

Well...the first charcter I ever played for 3.0 needs to be levelled up.

EDIT: Currently, since I moved from there, I am not playing the character. But the character is being npc'd and someday it's possible I may get to play him again, so I need to level him up. I played him all the way to 18th character level and the game has been going on for two more years without me.

The GM wants me to level up the character as I would were I still playing him. He's going to be used as an NPC, and if I ever go to visit I'll be able to play him while I am up there.

I added a post at the bottom with the finalized stats (as long as I didn't make any mistakes).

Cedric

 

[BSF]

Well, that kind of depends. You have a homebrew PrC for a character that is both Divine and Arcane spellcasting. What benefits does the PrC give you? Any spellcasting progression? If so, how? That info would be very handy to aoffer advice.

So, for now, lets just treat this as a straight Wiz1/Clr7. I would probably say you should devote the majority of your levels to the Cleric side. Bumping the Wizard levels would be nice, but you will get better value by getting access to higher level spells. As well, you would have better HP, better saves and better BAB.

But, one thing you need to keep in mind is that as soon as you bump to level 21, BAB and saves do not progress at the same rate! In that regard, I would almost certainly put the next 2 levels into Cleric. Maximize those bonuses to saves and BAB!

Still, all of this might change depending on your current caster levels for each class. Sorry to not be more help.

 

[Cedric]

Ahh, good point. The PrC gives me +1 per level spell progression in a spell casting class of my choice, and I chose divine. So I am basically 17th cleric/1st wizard for spell casting purposes.

My reasoning towards going with cleric is that higher level spells and spell progression into epic stuff is good!

My reasoning for thinking about wizard is that access to more arcane spells definitely helps with item creation and thinking "for the future" it would be very nice to someday sling around high level spells from both classes.

I'm still kind of torn, but leaning towards cleric anyway.

 

[BSF]

OK,
Short answer, with the scenario you have presented, I would favor cleric levels.

For the long answer....

Definitely do the next 2 levels as Cleric. It brings you more 7th, 8th, and 9th level spells and maxes out your BAB and your saves as well as bumping HP. Skill points are the same.

Look at some of the Epic Feats. There are a few that will require 25 ranks of some skills. As an Artificer, you probably want the Epic craft skills. Unfortunately, even at 25th level, you won't be able to take any of them. They all require 32 ranks of Knowledge (Arcana) - which means you can't take them until 29th level. Blech.

If you want Epic spellcasting, make sure your Spellcraft and your Knowledge skills are up to snuff. Until you can cast 9th level Arcane spells, you won't be able to take Epic Spellcasting for the Arcane spells. Make a decision as to whether that is important. If it isn't, just focus on the Divine.

I would really discuss the option of creating an Epic progression for your PrC though! You have maxed it out at 10 levels and you won't be able to take an Epic level in in until you get to Character Level 21. What will this gain you?

If the PrC has abilities that can logically be increased (similar to Sneak attack, monk movement, wildshaping, etc) then you will increase those and get fewer bonus Epic level feats. If it doesn't, then you should get more bonus Epic feats. You will need to put together the feat list that you can choose from, but as an artificer, I can see Master Wand, Master Staff, the Epic item creation, Efficient Item creation and probably metamagic affecting Epic feats being on that list.

If your DM won't budge, bite the bullet. Realize that because of that, your character will not have the advancement on the Epic side as a straight cleric or straight wizard would have had at the same level. This is a disparity that only grows larger with time. At 23rd level, you are 1 Epic level feat behind a 23rd level Cleric, at 26th, you are two, at 29th you are 3, etc. At this point, your choices will be to go for Improved Spell capacity so you can use metamagic on high level spells for the Divine levels, or buff up your Arcane levels so you have a little more variety. But still, a 5-6 HD fireball is not that impressive compared to the challenges a 25th level character will be facing. So, I would say just buff up the Cleric levels. It will get you to Epic progression on a class with bonus feats faster and it will improve HP better. As an Artificer, you want those Epic craft feats, so even if you have to cross-class it, bump up Knowledge Arcana.

Hope this helps a bit more.

 

[Cedric]

I just looked it up, I need 28 ranks for Epic Item Creation Feats...so the only way I can take one is if I am 25th character level with a feat that level, which I don't get, so it would have to be a bonus feat.

That really bites...heh, especially considering that my actual skill roll for Knowledge Arcana at that point is going to be in the mid to high 60's.

You had a really good idea in regards to getting with my GM for taking the Master of True Iron class into Epic Levels...hmm...I'll have to check with him, cause that would work out really well.

Thanks

 

[Creamsteak]

If your DM will let you take an epic feat with your 5th level bonus wizard feat... could you go Cleric 3/Wizard 4 with your 7 total levels, and get yourself that epic feat?

Seems like a tough leveling question, since your dealing with epic rules and all. Can you produce any more of the character info for people to examine?

 

[BSF]

Whoops! I was in a rush when I looked it up. You are correct, for Craft Epic Arms and Armor, you need 28 Ranks of Knowledge (Arcana).

For Rod and Staff, you need 32.

For Wonderous, you only need 26!

For efficient item creation, you need 24.

for an Epic ring, you need 35.

So, it does scale as you level. I should have thought of that when I posted and double-checked my numbers. Blech. Too tired. I should go to bed.

 

[Cedric]

This is all 3.0 btw...not 3.5

18th character level

1 level wizard

7 levels cleric

10 levels Master of True Iron (with 10 levels of divine spell casting). Total caster level for divine spells is 17th, for arcane spells it is 1st.

Concentration, Knowledge Arcana and Spellcraft are maxed with 21 ranks in each. Knowledge Arcana and Spellcraft are huge, because of a magic item that adds to their ranks, among other things (see Crown of Dragons below).

The character is a Cleric of Boccob, and the Masters of True Iron are an artificer prestige class devoted to the creation of unique and powerful magic items, pushing the boundaries of what a mere mortal can do in hopes of finding the lost secrets of artifact creation. In order to achieve 10th level in the class and become a board member among the masters you have to create an item worthy of leadership among the order, I created the Crown of Dragons, after 15 years spent researching with the oldest and wisest dragons I could find, trading magic items I created for them in exchange for knowledge. The crown is woven out of dragon scales, given freely from the dragons. Gold, Silver, and Cloud.

Crown of Dragons - +6 int; +6 wis; +30 Knowledge: Arcana; +30 Spellcraft; Will Save DC 31 when first putting on crown or affected by Feeblemind (wish or miracle to remove if will save fails).; Ability to telepathically communicate with all dragons within 1 mile. Languages: Elven, Draconic, Celestial, Infernal, Abyssal, Undercommon, Common. Read Magic and read all languages. 22 int, 19 wis, 17 cha. Detect secret doors (will), find traps (will), intuit direction (10 ranks), sense motive (10 ranks). Claraudience/Clairvoyance (100ft range/1 minute per use) 3/day, Detect Thoughts (100ft range/1 minute per use) 3/day, Telepathy (100ft range) 2/day, True Seeing at will. Special Purpose - Defend servants and interests of Boccob. +2 luck bonus on all saving throws, +2 deflection AC bonus, Spell Resistance 15. Ego: 31 - Xp Cost 4852, Gold Cost 60648, 122 days

Stat line (with items) is str 17, dex 18, con 16, int 26, wiz 27, cha 17.

Character is devoted completely to the worship of Boccob and magical research in terms of items and item creation. As a Master of True Iron I have an across the board reduction of 10% in the creation of all magic items. Additionally I have 45% more reduction for Wonderous Items, 15% more for arms/armor, 10% more for rings. I can craft arms/armor, rings, wands, staffs, wonderous items and scrolls. I can also pause in the creation of a magic item for any length of time, coming back to it later (class ability). Furthermore, as a class ability I can easily make multiples of the same item. If I am making them at the same time and they are all identical, I can make as many extras up to my Master of True Iron class level for an additional 10% cost per copy.

In addition to the Crown of Dragons, I have a blessed book of Boccob that is intelligent, named Locheby.

Locheby - Intelligent Boccob's Blessed Book - Int 19, Cha 17, Wis 15. Languages: Common, Celestial, Infernal, Abyssal, Draconic Ego: 19 - Detect Magic at will, See Invisibility at will, Invisibility 30 minutes, 3/day

I have a Wings of Flying/Resistance +4, Ring of Freedom of Movement & Mind Shielding (in one ring), along with a ring of sustenance. +3 Chain Mithral Shirt of Moderate Fortification, +3 Large Mithral Animated Shield, Morning Star +4, Heward's Handy Haversack and Bracers of Dex, Str and Cha +4.

Other feats I have are Alertness, Iron Will, Spell Focus: Enchantment, Skill Focus: Knowledge Arcana, Magical Artisan Craft Wonderous Items.

Hmm...that's about all I can think of right now. Any other details you can think of that would be helpful?

Cedric

 

[Cedric]

On a side note, I bumped the ancient thread in the House Rules forum regarding the Masters of True Iron...

 

[NewbyDM]

If there is a epic artificer class, you should take that i guess.. after 3 lvls of cleric.
Maybe that will give you the bonus-feat