Party needs a blaster

[Fingers Boggis]

My group has decided to remake our "famous" all arcane party, all roles are pretty much assigned except for that of the blaster, we need artillery. Previously this took the form of a sorcerous elemental savant but now with the release of Complete Arcane (come on christmas present *crosses fingers*) we're not sure which way to go, do we stick with this or go for a warlock or a warmage (is that what they're called, the other base class in CA). Most other spells are covered we just want characterful, fun to play, artillery suggestions.

cheers
Fingers
(feel free to use other books as well, we're limited to core, Complete X and Races of Y books but if its CA or Races of Destiny please give me a brief description as they aren't yet in my collection)

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Warmage. No question about it; especially if you've got other arcane "roles", like the utility caster, already filled. The advantages of being able to spontaneously cast "nuke" spells from a long list are obvious, and in an all-arcane party there's no downside.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Warmage. No question about it; especially if you've got other arcane "roles", like the utility caster, already filled. The advantages of being able to spontaneously cast "nuke" spells from a long list are obvious, and in an all-arcane party there's no downside.

I'd say warlock. In an all-arcane party, the ability to keep going without rest is going to be rare, and that's precisely what the warlock does. Make sure you pick incantations that contribute to combat. Hungry darkness, chill tentacles (or whatever it's called) and the like will shape the battlefield. Try using that animate dead one too - no matter how lame a skeleton is, it still fills a square on the battlefield and takes one hit to kill.

 

[AuraSeer]

If the whole party is arcane casters, a warlock could be very helpful.He doesn't have quite the area-effect blast power of a normal mage, but he has a ton more staying power since he never runs out of ammo. Also, since he never runs out of ammo, he doesn't need to rest and reload; he'll be at full power even when your camp is attacked one hour before dawn.

Are you restricted to pure arcanists, or can you multiclass? A warlock/rogue is a great combination, and almost any combination would have some fun RP potential. (I'm considering a warlock/paladin myself.)

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

May I ask what are the other "roles" that are filled, and by whom/what? At what level do you plan on starting?

As I'm looking at the Warmage, I believe that he'd be the better choice, for raw, damage-dealing spell-slinging.

AR

 

[Andor]

Are you restricted to pure arcanists, or can you multiclass? A warlock/rogue is a great combination, and almost any combination would have some fun RP potential. (I'm considering a warlock/paladin myself.)

Err... I assume one of those is an ex class? Since a warlock/paladin doesn't work without an alignment violation. Although the warlock doesn't list any penalty for an alignment violation so presumably an Ex-warlock turned LG simply can't advance as a warlock anymore.

As to Warmage vs Warlock. It's pretty close. A warmage will do more damage straightup, but will eventually run out of juice. A warlock can go all day, will be a little tougher, and by simple virtue of having any non-combat powers will be more versatile, but he will not have the raw shock damage potential of the warmage.

 

[Fingers Boggis]

multiclassing is allowed, it'd be somewhat painful otherwise lol erm ok brief rundown on the party i dont know exact levels im afraid, they're not all my characters lol but i know we're planning to start right from the beginning, level 1 to 20, with a DM willing and, more imporantly, experienced enough to set challenges based on our party not CR.

Tank/Heavy combatant: Dwarven Sorc/Barb going Dragon Disciple, min sorc levels using Dwarf Sorc sub level for more HPs and the damage reduction to help early level survivability

Finesse Fighter: Fighter2/swashbuckler3/wizard going bladesinger boost INT all the way but will be weak at early levels which is a bit of a worry, specialising in buffing spells, this will be me

Healing, Face Character and general combat support: Bard, the most important character in the party as he's the only one with any healing spells, also adds more damage to the combatants, good illusion and enchantment spells when not in combat

Skill monkey, utility spells, man to go to in a tight spot: human rogue/wizard going AT, planning to use spell mastery so that even if we're captured we still have access to handy spells

at low levels this should give cover in all areas but obviously without a cleric healing is weak as we're relying on bardic spells and UMD. This shouldnt be a huge problem as we've been playing the game for a while and know our characters limitations and we managed without a cleric last time
with regard to the question at hand I'm starting to side with the warlock, it was the comment that its the tougher of the 2 classes that did it, but will have to see what everyone else thinks

Fingers

 

[AuraSeer]

Err... I assume one of those is an ex class? Since a warlock/paladin doesn't work without an alignment violation. Although the warlock doesn't list any penalty for an alignment violation so presumably an Ex-warlock turned LG simply can't advance as a warlock anymore.

Exactly. The idea would be to start out CG, and take enough warlock levels to get some useful invocations. Then, change alignment by buying an atonement from a LG cleric, and advance from that point as a paladin.

I'd really like to make the character a warforged, for the RP potential of a holy warrior who doesn't need sleep or rest. Unfortunately, the multiclass XP restriction forces him to be human or half-elf, so that paladin can be his favored class. (Aasimar is not useable because he wouldn't be able to flip his alignment; atonement for that purpose does not work on outsiders.)

 

[drothgery]

Exactly. The idea would be to start out CG, and take enough warlock levels to get some useful invocations. Then, change alignment by buying an atonement from a LG cleric, and advance from that point as a paladin.

I'd really like to make the character a warforged, for the RP potential of a holy warrior who doesn't need sleep or rest. Unfortunately, the multiclass XP restriction forces him to be human or half-elf, so that paladin can be his favored class. (Aasimar is not useable because he wouldn't be able to flip his alignment; atonement for that purpose does not work on outsiders.)

I don't have Complete Arcane, so this may sound a bit silly, but what's the justification for the alignment restrictions on the warlock? If it's a bit weak (like the Bard), why not just talk the DM into dropping it.

 

[The Halfling]

Well, If you want to use a paladin type (and you can't use UA for the Paladin of Freedom variant), do a warforged warlock/fighter/holy liberator or Pious Templar.

Should be close enough.