Need classes

[RUMBLETiGER]

I'd also like to point out the Factotum//Psion as a solid build choice, unless you and your DM are in the group of Psionic haters.


...which would be ok, I don't want to hate on the haters.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Beguiler practically does everything you want all on its own, so you probably want that on one side. For gestalt combos:

Beguiler//Factotum: Very strong int-synergy, has trouble just pushing out damage when needed, but with your party sounds like that's covered fine. Limit yourself to one extra standard action per turn, or the DM WILL likely kill your character off...

Beguiler//Warblade: Not as much int-synergy, but still a lot, and much beefier combat stats (full BAB, d12 HD, good fort saves) at the expense of every skill as a class skill and some other utility. Maneuvers give you powerful melee options, though you can't use most of them while casting. This is probably the most solid choice all-round.

Beguiler//Duskblade: d8 HD, full BAB, good fort save, pretty solid overall. Also int-based casting and can cast in armor. You can't use spellcasting from both the same round (barring quickened spells), but duskblade's normally limited spell list covers much of the stuff Beguiler is missing, and has a NASTY full attack. I'd need to check, but you could probably use Quick Cast on beguiler spells, which would be very powerful if so.

 

[emoplato]

Csjosephs1s: That is only mearly one option that the beguiler gives automatically. You are correct that is unfeasible, but let me explain why you would want to keep eldritch blast as a spell-like ability. He could learn lucerne's lance to automatically render a target flat-footed, move, and then use his swift action for quicken spell-like ability for an eldritch blast. Supernatural Transformation is tempting but it doesn't give the options that spell-like abilities have. I guess it could be taken and he could focus on beguiler casting. I suggested the warlock to give him some blasting offense and some boosts he could always rely upon while the beguiler gives him skills and the control.
Gwyllgi: How can the DM just ignore that? If he can't find you he can't specifically target you. Plus if you use the advanced learning right, get the right feats and items you may not even have to worry about area of effect abilities. I think you are asking a bit too much without actually looking at what a class will give you later on. As for the party role, I don't see why you want to be a warmage. Isn't the druid/sorcerer the crowd blaster of the group, because this is pretty much all what a warmage can do. This doesn't fit what you first asked for but for someone who is worried about having this, that, and other a Factotum/Wizard could bring a world misery on the battlefield. This thing will be almost entirely fueled by intelligence alone because it can literally boost every aspect of the character when needed. You would have take a fighter dip and then go for spellsword 1 then you would qualify for battle caster give casting you in light armor as well as channel spells into your melee, take them from the Factotum. I know it is a prepared caster but there is actually and amulet for 18,000 that gives the benefit of spontaneous casting.

 

[kitcik]

Kobold Monk / Soulknife. That's real trouble.

For someone.

Probably whoever is playing it.

 

[Tovec]

could you tell me the Barbarian druids strengths and weaknesses?

Its strengths and weaknesses depend on level. Are you epic - if so what epic level? I can give you a good place to start.

The class I propose can be made entirely of PHB and complete warrior. It starts out being able to wild shape into animals and then boost those animals. If you are high enough level then the bear (bear warrior) becomes your primary form, you boost that, rage and slaughter everything while having fast healing, immunity to crits, improved reach, improved damage and improved stats (all from warshaper). The benefit from gestalting would be improved wild shape so you can turn into other animals, plants and elementals and wreck even more things.

If interested please explain how you do gestalt involving prestige classes and I'll give you a decent place to start levelwise. Go for as much in the prestiges as possible would be my base thinking however.

 

[emoplato]

Its strengths and weaknesses depend on level. Are you epic - if so what epic level? I can give you a good place to start.

The class I propose can be made entirely of PHB and complete warrior. It starts out being able to wild shape into animals and then boost those animals. If you are high enough level then the bear (bear warrior) becomes your primary form, you boost that, rage and slaughter everything while having fast healing, immunity to crits, improved reach, improved damage and improved stats (all from warshaper). The benefit from gestalting would be improved wild shape so you can turn into other animals, plants and elementals and wreck even more things.

If interested please explain how you do gestalt involving prestige classes and I'll give you a decent place to start levelwise. Go for as much in the prestiges as possible would be my base thinking however.

The Bear warrior doesn't stack with the druid because it is a polymorph effect and it transforms the current rage into that when you enter. If you really want to get money's worth of wild shaping stuff use master of many forms and then continue barbarian. There you can actually turn into almost full grown dragons, assume extraordinary abilities, and a controlled immunity to any transmutation effect. The warshaper is decent though, I would ask if you could be druidic avenger to drop the animal companion and gain a different rage.

 

[cjosephs1s]

I fail to see how when a monk turns level 20 and turns to an outsider that a lot of buffs don't work on him?

The warblade/beguiler would be tough. Melee or spellcasting is at your disposal and reflex is your only bad save. Manuevers and stances can be taken to bolster your defenses or take things that are swift actions or immediate actions so you can still do whatever plus something cool. You still get all the beguiler skills so he can be sneaky and stealthy and all that stuff. Now he's tough enough to wade into melee to use the beguilers casting buffs. Plus bonus feats from warblade so your not using your core ones to bolster your other class, they can go for beguiler stuff. About the only thing this guy doesn't do is sneak attack, cast divine spells, or turn undead. Sounds like a pretty good combo. Make him Dex based fighter type though as this will bump your AC for light armor.

I think its a PrC for Defense: dwarven defender. I remember something about them being able to take a beating.

Overall advice I'd take your base classes till at least the high teens and wait to PrC until Epic as base classes get bupkiss then. Unless you can do racial progressions or add templates as I have suggested earlier.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I fail to see how when a monk turns level 20 and turns to an outsider that a lot of buffs don't work on him?

Not a lot of buffs. But enlarge person is just SOOOOOO good for melee classes, and anyone using combat maneuvers like grapple especially.

The warblade/beguiler would be tough. Melee or spellcasting is at your disposal and reflex is your only bad save. Manuevers and stances can be taken to bolster your defenses or take things that are swift actions or immediate actions so you can still do whatever plus something cool. You still get all the beguiler skills so he can be sneaky and stealthy and all that stuff. Now he's tough enough to wade into melee to use the beguilers casting buffs. Plus bonus feats from warblade so your not using your core ones to bolster your other class, they can go for beguiler stuff. About the only thing this guy doesn't do is sneak attack, cast divine spells, or turn undead. Sounds like a pretty good combo. Make him Dex based fighter type though as this will bump your AC for light armor.

While base reflex is low, he's adding his massive intelligence modifer to it on top of dex, so it could well end up being one of his best saves. While he has no sneak attack, he gets int bonus to damage on flatfooted and flanked foes, iirc. While he can't cast divine spells, Iron Heart Surge and Iron Heart Endurance maneuvers alone basically replicate most of the important healing divine spells could have provided, for himself at least. And he has Use Magic Device skill. Turning undead he just plain can't do, but the only thing turn undead is good for at higher levels is powering divine feats and the like anyway.

I think its a PrC for Defense: dwarven defender. I remember something about them being able to take a beating.

Dwarven Defender is a trap.

Overall advice I'd take your base classes till at least the high teens and wait to PrC until Epic as base classes get bupkiss then. Unless you can do racial progressions or add templates as I have suggested earlier.

I'd say don't PrC at all. Every combo I mentioned has solid classes on both sides that are rewarding to keep in from 1-20, and the epic class progression bonus feats reward you heavily for not dipping around, if the game is indeed epic. The only exception might be Warblade, since they get 2nd stance a level too soon, sadly. Dipping elsewhere for 2 levels would allow you to get a 3rd level stance at Warblade 4. Fighter or Barbarian (Lion Spirit Totem, for pounce) 2, or 1 in each, being the simplest and best choices, IMO. If going Barb 2, you'd probably want Wolf Totem as well so you don't "waste" an Uncanny Dodge.

 

[Tovec]

The Bear warrior doesn't stack with the druid because it is a polymorph effect and it transforms the current rage into that when you enter. If you really want to get money's worth of wild shaping stuff use master of many forms and then continue barbarian. There you can actually turn into almost full grown dragons, assume extraordinary abilities, and a controlled immunity to any transmutation effect. The warshaper is decent though, I would ask if you could be druidic avenger to drop the animal companion and gain a different rage.

I didn't say bear warrior stacked with wild shape.

I said you turn into a bear via bear warrior and rage. Wild shape merely gives you other options if you choose not to be a bear. It won't be as effective but it may provide other effects and bonuses. Regular rage does stack as far as I remember in such cases.

I'm also not saying there aren't better druid-wild shape related prestige classes. I'm saying my system is simple and easy and gives you many nice abilities for simply leveling. It is not overly complicated on a character sheet and can be assembled in less time than many wild shaping related prestige classes.

It also bases the scores upon the character and not a foreign animal/creature.

The idea is rage, mightily, gain the abilities (immunities) of druid and benefits of warshaper added to a bear warrior.

I'm sure if he is going epic and gestalt he can do away with either barbarian or druid and still make it work. When I first (jokingly) suggested the build I didn't realize it was epic and when I made the character I needed every related benefit I could get. With variations in other books I'm sure it could become even more ridiculous but it is pretty insane just as it is.

 

[gwyllgi]

What about warmage? Also as long as im casting I think i want to stay far far away from barbarian.