PHB II: Duskblade too powerful?

[wildstarsreach]

Below is my current character. It is a respectable character and does produce good results. It is not broken by far. However in one combat against Rat swams, She was invaluable because of shocking grasp and arcane channeling.

A Fighter/mage hybrid it is and will never be as good as some of the wonky builds that are possible. But it is a solid class

Now I am asking, is there a feat that would allow learning an additional spell that is outside of the duskblade spell list. I know of the feat in the complete arcane that allows additional spell knowledge but that would be within the allowed spell list.

Parlee Oakstream
Female human Duskblade 4
XP 6425
CG Medium humanoid (human)
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Init +6; Senses Listen -1, Spot -1
Languages Common, Draconic, Elven, Orcish
AC 18 (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +2 Dex, +1 Nat Arm), touch 13, flat-footed 16
HP 29 (4 HD)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +3
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee MW Longsword +8 (1d8+3/19-20 x2)
Ranged MW composite longbow +7 (1d8+2/x3)
Base Atk +4; Grp +6
Atk Options Arcane Channeling
Combat Gear none
Duskblade Spells Known (CL 3rd, DC 12 + spell level)
1st (6/day) – Blade of Blood, Kelgore's Fire Bolt, Magic Weapon, Stand, Shocking Grasp
0th (6/day) – Acid Splash, Disrupt Undead, Ray of frost, Touch of Fatigue
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th)
5/day (total) – dancing lights, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, read magic
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Abilities Str 15, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 12
SQ Armored Mage (Light, Medium)
Action Points 7
Feats Weapon Focus Longsword, Improved Initiative, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise
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Skills (35 points, ACP -1) Climb (2/+4_3), Concentration (7/+9) (+13 def), Know Arcana (7/+9), Know Local (5/+7), Know Nobility/Royalty (3/+5), Ride (2/+4), Spellcraft (7/+11), Swim (2/+4_3)
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Possessions (66/133/200 – 56) combat gear (–) plus MW Chain Shirt, MW Buckler Shield, MW Longsword, MW Composite Longbow +2 Str, Bedroll, Backpack, 1 large sack and 2 small sacks, flint and steel, 1 water skin, a set of common robes, 1 pair of manacles, 1 pair of boots, 2 Daggers, Quiver w/20 Arrows, 103 PP, 177 GP, 3 SP, 6 CP, Pot Cr Lt wds, +1 Amulet of Nat Armor, Pot Bull’s Str, Cure Mod Wds

 

[rgard]

Battle Caster can't be taken more than once.

Thanks, but where does it say that it can only be taken once, please?

Thanks again,
Rich

 

[rgard]

Below is my current character. It is a respectable character and does produce good results. It is not broken by far. However in one combat against Rat swams, She was invaluable because of shocking grasp and arcane channeling.

A Fighter/mage hybrid it is and will never be as good as some of the wonky builds that are possible. But it is a solid class

Now I am asking, is there a feat that would allow learning an additional spell that is outside of the duskblade spell list. I know of the feat in the complete arcane that allows additional spell knowledge but that would be within the allowed spell list.

Parlee Oakstream
Female human Duskblade 4
XP 6425
CG Medium humanoid (human)
------------------------------------------------------
Init +6; Senses Listen -1, Spot -1
Languages Common, Draconic, Elven, Orcish
AC 18 (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +2 Dex, +1 Nat Arm), touch 13, flat-footed 16
HP 29 (4 HD)
Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +3
------------------------------------------------------
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee MW Longsword +8 (1d8+3/19-20 x2)
Ranged MW composite longbow +7 (1d8+2/x3)
Base Atk +4; Grp +6
Atk Options Arcane Channeling
Combat Gear none
Duskblade Spells Known (CL 3rd, DC 12 + spell level)
1st (6/day) – Blade of Blood, Kelgore's Fire Bolt, Magic Weapon, Stand, Shocking Grasp
0th (6/day) – Acid Splash, Disrupt Undead, Ray of frost, Touch of Fatigue
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th)
5/day (total) – dancing lights, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, read magic
------------------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 15, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 12
SQ Armored Mage (Light, Medium)
Action Points 7
Feats Weapon Focus Longsword, Improved Initiative, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise
------------------------------------------------------
Skills (35 points, ACP -1) Climb (2/+4_3), Concentration (7/+9) (+13 def), Know Arcana (7/+9), Know Local (5/+7), Know Nobility/Royalty (3/+5), Ride (2/+4), Spellcraft (7/+11), Swim (2/+4_3)
------------------------------------------------------
Possessions (66/133/200 – 56) combat gear (–) plus MW Chain Shirt, MW Buckler Shield, MW Longsword, MW Composite Longbow +2 Str, Bedroll, Backpack, 1 large sack and 2 small sacks, flint and steel, 1 water skin, a set of common robes, 1 pair of manacles, 1 pair of boots, 2 Daggers, Quiver w/20 Arrows, 103 PP, 177 GP, 3 SP, 6 CP, Pot Cr Lt wds, +1 Amulet of Nat Armor, Pot Bull’s Str, Cure Mod Wds

There isn't one published by WotC that I know of.

But along the lines you are thinking...

For the Warmage there is 'Advanced Learning (Ex)' as a class feature gained 4 times through the level progression. It allows the Warmage to learn any other Evocation spell that is not normally on the Warmage's spell list.

With the above as a guide, I suggest you write up a feat that would do the same thing for one spell and run it by your DM. That said, I would look to keep the spell learned with the feat in line with the types of spells the Duskblade already has. The Wraithstrike spell is one that strikes me as being in line with the theme of the class.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[wildstarsreach]

Here's the question? Since the Duskblade is an arcane caster, could he not research a spell that is unique to him and class but would be identical to another class spell?

 

[shilsen]

If the DM allowed it, yes.

 

[rgard]

Here's the question? Since the Duskblade is an arcane caster, could he not research a spell that is unique to him and class but would be identical to another class spell?

As DM, I wouldn't allow it. The PHB2 is clear about not allowing the opportunity to expand the spell list as the writers think (and I agree) that it would unbalance things. There is nothing really lost in exchange for the new spell if you research it. Sure, maybe a small xp hit, but you'll make that up in the first encounter.

On the other hand, I would as DM allow the character in question to take a feat that added one spell to the characters list as long as it was in the flavor of the class.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Klaus]

Thanks, but where does it say that it can only be taken once, please?

Thanks again,
Rich

Feats that can be taken more than once say one of these things:

"This feat can be taken more than once. Its effects stack."

or

"This feat can be taken more than once. Each time you take this feat you apply it to a different (weapon/class/monster/energy type/spell/etc."

If there's no such notation, then you can only take it once.

 

[Sejs]

Thanks, but where does it say that it can only be taken once, please?

Thanks again,
Rich

As Klaus said - the default for any feat is that you can only take it once, unless the feat itself expressly says otherwise. That's why you get feat entries that go out of their way to say things like 'you can take this feat multiple times, but each time you take it you must apply it to a different X'.

 

[Glyfair]

True INT is their casting stat - and that's actually another problem - they need a decent INT as well as STR, DEX and CON - unless you get really lucky or have a high point buy

I thought about commenting on the "MAD" issue. However, it really applies to all fighter/spellcasters, so it's really a wash when comparing those option (an issue when comparing to a pure fighter though).

 

[wildstarsreach]

As DM, I wouldn't allow it. The PHB2 is clear about not allowing the opportunity to expand the spell list as the writers think (and I agree) that it would unbalance things. There is nothing really lost in exchange for the new spell if you research it. Sure, maybe a small xp hit, but you'll make that up in the first encounter.

On the other hand, I would as DM allow the character in question to take a feat that added one spell to the characters list as long as it was in the flavor of the class.

Thanks,
Rich

Please read page 21 under playing a Duskblade. Here it is talking about restoring the Duskblades to their previous glory. This could take many forms which could include spells not previously known to the lists, feats developed. Anything else, who knows?