Low level gestalt crusader

[udalrich]

I'm looking at building a first level gestalt crusader for a PvP arena game. The combats will be me against another player built with similar rules. Characters are built with gestalt rules, 36 point buy and most 3.5 books.

I have PHB II, most of the completes, Book of 9 Swords, Libris Mortis, Book of Vile Deeds, Eberron Campaign Setting, Spell Compendium and MM III, so I'd like to focus on those books.

For one side of the gestalt, I want to try a Crusader (Bo9S). For the other side, I'm looking at some sort of spell caster for buffing. Several of the Crusader's abilities key of off Charisma, so I'd like a Charisma based caster rather than Int based.

There's several useful looking spells on the Sorcerer spell list (Blades of Fire, Wraith Strike, Fist of Stone) that I'd like, so I'm leaning towards a caster that uses the Sorcerer spell list. I could be dissuaded from that, but that's what I'm thinking of at the moment.

To make things more complicated , I'd also like to be able to wear armor, so that I don't have to pump Dex for good AC, letting me get a better Str/Con/Cha. I looked at Battle Sorcerer, but only 1 spell known for the first two levels seems awfully restrictive. At the moment, I'm considering focusing on spells with no somatic component, trading the familiar for Metamagic Specialist (no increase in casting time for metamagic spells) and taking Still Spell around the time I get second level spells.

Any thoughts on how to improve that?

 

[Elethiomel]

You could go Weapon Finesse to do DEX/CON/CHA instead of STR/CON/CHA and be unarmored. This would allow you to use more sorcerer spells to buff with, but that won't really come into effect until later levels. You would, however, have rather a good AC at early levels with lots of DEX, Shield and Mage Armor.

 

[Jack Simth]

I'm looking at building a first level gestalt crusader for a PvP arena game. The combats will be me against another player built with similar rules. Characters are built with gestalt rules, 36 point buy and most 3.5 books.

I have PHB II, most of the completes, Book of 9 Swords, Libris Mortis, Book of Vile Deeds, Eberron Campaign Setting, Spell Compendium and MM III, so I'd like to focus on those books.

For one side of the gestalt, I want to try a Crusader (Bo9S). For the other side, I'm looking at some sort of spell caster for buffing. Several of the Crusader's abilities key of off Charisma, so I'd like a Charisma based caster rather than Int based.

There's several useful looking spells on the Sorcerer spell list (Blades of Fire, Wraith Strike, Fist of Stone) that I'd like, so I'm leaning towards a caster that uses the Sorcerer spell list. I could be dissuaded from that, but that's what I'm thinking of at the moment.

To make things more complicated , I'd also like to be able to wear armor, so that I don't have to pump Dex for good AC, letting me get a better Str/Con/Cha. I looked at Battle Sorcerer, but only 1 spell known for the first two levels seems awfully restrictive. At the moment, I'm considering focusing on spells with no somatic component, trading the familiar for Metamagic Specialist (no increase in casting time for metamagic spells) and taking Still Spell around the time I get second level spells.

Any thoughts on how to improve that?

Battle Sorcerer, and buy Wands of the spells you want. Wands take no Somatic components, and thus aren't subject to spell failure. Works well for anything without a save.

 

[Herobizkit]

If all you're looking to do is PvP, how about considering a Crusader/Warlock (if there is no alignment issue - I don't know if Crusaders *have* to be good)? Warlocks have "on all the time" buffs plus an unlimited supply of decent ranged touch attacks, plus they can wear light armor, get UMD, and no annoying spell "points" to track.

 

[Jack Simth]

If all you're looking to do is PvP, how about considering a Crusader/Warlock (if there is no alignment issue - I don't know if Crusaders *have* to be good)? Warlocks have "on all the time" buffs plus an unlimited supply of decent ranged touch attacks, plus they can wear light armor, get UMD, and no annoying spell "points" to track.

As I recall, crusaders have to be any extreme alignment (LG, CG, LE, CE); Warblades and Swordsages need to be any Neutral (TN, LN, NG, CN, NE).

 

[Herobizkit]

Crusaders have to be any Extreme alignment (LG, CG, LE, CE)

Well, that works; Warlocks can be any Chaotic or Evil.

 

[blargney the second]

How about wilder?
-blarg