Minmaxing UMD(artificer)

[draconlord]

Hi, I'm making a level 19 artificer purely for duel purposes(against a level 20 melee build). I want to minmax UMD as much as possible using only WoTC rules.

Since this is level 19, scrolls are the only things that matter(presumably my normal UMD is high enough for anything else)So far I have:

22(base)
+2(synergy with Spellcraft)
+2(synergy with Decipher Script)
+11 circumstance(Infusion->Skill Enhancement infused w/+1 CL from Ioun Stone)
+5(Charisma. This is an approximation since I'm doing stats last)
+5 from Spellsight Spectacles(This is suboptimal since it takes up a body slot)
Take 10 on UMD checks(artificer natural ability)

In total, I could beat ~DC 57. The best-case scenerio is beating DC 65 for metamagic spell trigger- Persistent Spell: Timestop. So is there anything else I could pile on?(Preferably w/o using feats. Also, Circlet of Persuasion is a last-ditch item)


And while we're at it, is there anything that boosts the DC of magical items?

Thanks so much!

Best,
draconlord

 

[Wyvernhand]

Shape Soulmeld(Mage's Spectacles) gives you a +4 Insight Bonus on UMD, Discipher Script, and Spellcraft rolls. Once you take that, if you take the Bonus Essentia feat, you'll get 2 extra Essetia to pump into your Specs, assuming you are at least 6th level, adding another +4 for a grand total of +8 Insight. Both feats are in Magic of Incarnum.

Alternatively, purchase a Staff of Divine Insight (CDivine). Staffs use your CL, and if your UMD is high enough, you can fake a CL of 10 easily. That gives you an ability that lasts 10 hours that you can discharge as a free action for a +15 Insight bonus on your next skill check. Moment of Prescience works as well, but DI is a 2nd level spell vs MoP's 8th level. Guidance of the Avatar would be even better, but its not from a published source, which might cause friction.

BTW, you can't Persist Timestop...it doesn't have a duration. You could empower it though, or maximize it.

 

[Rhun]

Magical Aptitude Feat: You get a +2 bonus on all Spellcraft checks and Use Magic Device check

 

[Rhun]

BTW, you can't Persist Timestop...it doesn't have a duration. You could empower it though, or maximize it.

Time Stop certainly has a duration, as noted below. Now granted, this is "apparent time" and thus open to interpretation. But it has 1d4+1 rounds listed as duration.

Time Stop
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 9, Trickery 9
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds (apparent time); see text

This spell seems to make time cease to flow for everyone but you. In fact, you speed up so greatly that all other creatures seem frozen, though they are actually still moving at their normal speeds. You are free to act for 1d4+1 rounds of apparent time. Normal and magical fire, cold, gas, and the like can still harm you. While the time stop is in effect, other creatures are invulnerable to your attacks and spells; you cannot target such creatures with any attack or spell. A spell that affects an area and has a duration longer than the remaining duration of the time stop have their normal effects on other creatures once the time stop ends. Most spellcasters use the additional time to improve their defenses, summon allies, or flee from combat.

You cannot move or harm items held, carried, or worn by a creature stuck in normal time, but you can affect any item that is not in another creature’s possession.

You are undetectable while time stop lasts. You cannot enter an area protected by an antimagic field while under the effect of time stop.

 

[Wyvernhand]

Its only apparent time. Its not a real duration. No real duration, no Persist spell. I agree with this, as does the Sage.

Even so, Persisting Time Stop does absolutely nothing for you. You'd have 24 hours to sit there and stare at your foe. Anything you cast will have ended by the time the apparent time ends. You'd generally be better off simply with an empowered Time Stop at a much lower DC.

 

[Ashtagon]

If you're trying to read a scroll, the highest DC you'll need to face is 29, so any effective bonus higher than +28 is a waste of effort, and will take resources that could have been spent on something else that was actually useful.

 

[Iku Rex]

+11 circumstance(Infusion->Skill Enhancement infused w/+1 CL from Ioun Stone)

Combine item alteration (Art 4) with skill enhancement and you can pretty much have as high a total bonus as you want if you have time to buff.


A circlet of persuasion grants a +3 competence bonus to Charisma-based checks.

 

[Rhun]

Even so, Persisting Time Stop does absolutely nothing for you. You'd have 24 hours to sit there and stare at your foe. Anything you cast will have ended by the time the apparent time ends. You'd generally be better off simply with an empowered Time Stop at a much lower DC.

Oh, I agree with this part completely. I'm not sure why you would want to do a Persistent Time Stop.

Its only apparent time. Its not a real duration. No real duration, no Persist spell. I agree with this, as does the Sage.

Not to argue, but "the Sage" has gotten plenty of things wrong before.

 

[Greenfield]

Note: Moment of Prescience applies to *contested* shill checks. Won't work with UMD.

As someone else noted in another thread, straight skill boost items have a standard price in the book. The price is Bonus squared x 100 gp. See the table marked "Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Prices".

A +20 ring would cost 40,000. A +15 ring would cost 22,500. Pay your money, take your choice.

Note that the Saves against a Staff spell effect are based on your ability score, not the minimum needed to create the staff. And UMD allows you to fake an ability score. Whether you can use that for a Staff is subject to debate, since the SRD only describes the use of this for purposes of Scroll use. If it's allowed, it's your check -15. That can make a Staff extremely powerful tool.

 

[thompsja]

Hi, I'm making a level 19 artificer purely for duel purposes(against a level 20 melee build). I want to minmax UMD as much as possible using only WoTC rules.

Since this is level 19, scrolls are the only things that matter(presumably my normal UMD is high enough for anything else)So far I have:

22(base)
+2(synergy with Spellcraft)
+2(synergy with Decipher Script)
+11 circumstance(Infusion->Skill Enhancement infused w/+1 CL from Ioun Stone)
+5(Charisma. This is an approximation since I'm doing stats last)
+5 from Spellsight Spectacles(This is suboptimal since it takes up a body slot)
Take 10 on UMD checks(artificer natural ability)

In total, I could beat ~DC 57. The best-case scenerio is beating DC 65 for metamagic spell trigger- Persistent Spell: Timestop. So is there anything else I could pile on?(Preferably w/o using feats. Also, Circlet of Persuasion is a last-ditch item)


And while we're at it, is there anything that boosts the DC of magical items?

Thanks so much!

Best,
draconlord

As I recall, a Staff magic item uses the DC of its wielder, which would be based on the Int of the artificer.

You could have a cloak of Charisma and or Tome of Leadership for a higher stat. Persistent Shapechange is pretty nice. You could use the 3rd level Infusion, Metamagic Item and use Heighten Spell to an item to make it a higher DC.

If the game is hog wild, then get some odd-ball item with a +30 to UMD (only 90K gold).

Quickened Enervation Wands, with Dual Wand Wielder are going to tear apart most people.

Please post your build once you're done.