Quick help needed - most powerful 3rd lvl build

[geosapient]

Depending on the 'arena' you could do well with hired archers. The Druid / wolf would be a decent idea but if others take a potion of fly also the wolf wouldn't have much to do.

If you rp a little up to the place where combat takes place if the arena is outside you could easily set up an ambush. If you put points into disguise and are of the same race as the mercenaries you could fool the others into thinking that you aren't there (or they could waste time looking for you target by target).

So...
Elven Druid

Str 10
Dex 12 (14)
Con 10 (8)
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 12

This would give you 9-21 hitpoints, +4 to hit with a bow (elven weapon), +4 on a disguise check (3 for cross class 1 for Cha), ability to cast 2nd level spells and a companion (probably wolf still).

If you could get 5 elven archers (2HD +1 base attack +2 dex AC 14 [10 + leather +2 dex]) (these are just random numbers that sound decent to me) at 300gp each (again, not sure of actual figures) you could have them all spread out so it would take a move to get from one to another and they wouldn't be close enough to get hit by the same spell.

That would give 6+ attacks per round and add multiple targets.

If that's not the case then either go with the same druid with rapid and point blank shot or a power attacking half-orc barb with a masterwork great axe and just slowly advance.

 

[Darklone]

Invisible flying 3rd level chars? That means a potion of improved invisibility that will only last a few rounds ... plus a potion of fly. Not a good idea.

Do you know the races of the other combatants? Humans?

Go halfling ranger/rog. Stack some potions of invis and throw 3 daggers a round at great to hit bonus with sneak attack and Favored enemy bonus. TWF plus Rapid Shot. Start combat with a potion of invis and wait till everybody else is done... specifically the invisible flying caster.

 

[Imp]

anything with 2700 gp?

2700 gold ought to hire you an overwhelming amount of pikemen. Fifty at least, could be as many as 200. You don't even have to give them armor. 3rd-level characters are just not powerful enough to cheese their way through that many longspears. Save another 50 gold for javelins to give 'em. Maybe be something that'll let you disguise yourself as just one of the phalanx.

They won't let you do that, of course, but that's what I'd do if I absolutely positively had to kill three third-level characters in an arena.

 

[vancouver_dndplayer]

Outcome of the battle

Well, we played the battle last night.

I ended up playing a dwarven 3rd level wizard. We all got maximum hit points. I ended up buying a lot of scrolls of True Strike and Shocking Grasp.

There were six of us and the winner was a half-orc 2 fighter/1 barbarian. 2nd place was a human 2 fighter/1 sorcerer and I was third.

I rolled crummy on initiative and took a beatdown in the first round. Knocked me down to 2 hp. I got off an invisibility scroll and then cast levitate the next round to get off the ground.

I drank a bunch of cure light wounds potions and then buffed up with mage armor and shield. Then I pulled out a wand of magic missiles to finish off a guy that got beat up badly (he was at 0 hp).

Unfortunately I turned into a pincushion up in the air as the Fighter Barbarian had a compound bow and kept rolling above my AC. I cast spectral hand and then was able to cast true strike one round and then shocking grasp the next for 3d6 damage. However, I fumbled (house rules) and ended up hitting myself, so I had to drink a lot of cure light wounds potions, which took up valuable rounds that could have been used putting the smack down.

I liked the Druid idea. Having the 4HD wolf, plus normal Druid spells, plus being able to cast divine scrolls would have been very handy.

Thanks for all of the advice from everybody! I'm really enjoying these forums.

 

[Darklone]

May the dice be with you next time

I'd be dying to play a bbn2/scout1 with Powerful Charge and a Belt of One Mighty Blow in such a battle, even if you can't have Great Cleave nor Imp Skirmish yet.

 

[DungeonMaester]

What? No warmage?

---Rusty