Quick help needed - most powerful 3rd lvl build

[szilard]

Druid.

Normally, they don't really come into their own until 5th level... but in a situation like this, they have one huge advantage: their animal companion. Get a wolf. At third level, it will have 4HD, AC 17, and a +5 melee (1d6 +2) bite attack with a free trip attempt. Not bad at all.

...and a 3rd level druid isn't a pushover himself.

-Stuart

 

[Mistwell]

Druid.

Normally, they don't really come into their own until 5th level... but in a situation like this, they have one huge advantage: their animal companion. Get a wolf. At third level, it will have 4HD, AC 17, and a +5 melee (1d6 +2) bite attack with a free trip attempt. Not bad at all.

Potion of fly + druid 3 + produce flame = FUN.

Scorching ray doing 4d6 each round. An Evoker with 14 Int can do this three times himself before having to use a scroll or wand. Make Dex as high as possible of course for the ranged touch attack; and perhaps Weapon Focus – Ranged Touch.
I don’t see many other feats being crucial; but the greater probability of acting first by taking Improved Init seems worthwhile. (I completely agree that taking potions/scrolls of mirror image, cure, etc. are vital for survivability)

I agree with the above two ideas:

1) An Evoker with scorching ray, a potion of fly, and mirror mage will be good.

2) A druid with produce flame, a potion of fly, and wolf animal companion will be good.

and for my own idea:

3) You could also go Conjurer, drink a potion of invisibility and fly, wait for everyone else to knock each other down a bit, and then rain summoned monsters down on them (those you cast yourself, and then those cast from a wand). Take Spell Focus (conjuration) and Augment Summoning. A raging celestial badger would have +8 to strength. Or bring in fiendish wolves (which I believe can smite good once a day - a pretty useful ability in this situation). This idea can be done with a druid (and the wolf companion) of course as well, bringing in regular wolves, black bears, hippogriffs (to go after other flying PCs), dire badgers, and wolverines if you like. Either way, if you are not summoning at the time, you should be casting spells that will not cancel your invisibility (like Grease and and Darkness and maybe Glitterdust if that is not an attack). Invisibility and fly will last 3 minutes I believe, which should be long enough for the entire battle if you don't mess it up with a direct attack.

 

[Nifft]

Barbarian 1 / Cleric 2 (Travel and Magic domains). Stock up on the same Wands and Scrolls you would use for a Wizard; but now, you're using them from behind a Chain Shirt, Light shield and a bunch of hit points. If necessary, you can Rage.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Machiavelli]

I feel I should whole-heartedly endorse the suggestions involving 1st level in Barbarian. Those 12 hitpoints (plus 6 more from rage!) can really make the difference at low levels, and +4 Strength is good at any level.

Oh, but for Nifft's suggestion, just remember that you can't cast spells while raging. Use the rage as the finisher, in lieu of a healing spell, when your spells have run out.

Spellcasters may look attractive for an arena, but anyone who can hit you can kill you. You have to be a CAREFUL spellcaster to survive as a lone spellcaster.

 

[Mistwell]

Spellcasters may look attractive for an arena, but anyone who can hit you can kill you. You have to be a CAREFUL spellcaster to survive as a lone spellcaster.

Which is why you hope to win initiative (high dex, and improved initiative feat), and immediately drink a potion of invisibility and potion of fly.

A raging charging half-orc barbarian with a greatsword in two hands power attacking you will kill just about anyone. Those extra hit points probably won't keep up with the damage you will take no matter what your class. Best tactic is to not get hit...

 

[backbeat]

My game had a all out contest like this and the winner was a gnome illusionist 3/rogue 1. Seems odd but he smacked everyone down.

If you go down a wizard route remember there are lots of spells really really powerful on low HD creatures. Color spray and Sleep come to my mind. The gnome won our royal rumble by maxing out his color spray save, and acid splashing us while we were stunned (sneak attack). Anyone still alive after that, met the wand of magic missile. Consumable magic items are really powerful in one-off fights.

 

[Machiavelli]

A raging charging half-orc barbarian with a greatsword in two hands power attacking you will kill just about anyone.

I can think of no stronger endorsement for BEING the raging, charging barbarian.

 

[Nifft]

Oh, but for Nifft's suggestion, just remember that you can't cast spells while raging. Use the rage as the finisher, in lieu of a healing spell, when your spells have run out.

Bingo. Use the Rage only if you are forced into melee. But take Power Attack anyway.

It's always better to win from a distance than it is to risk melee. That's why you have a Wand of Magic Missile. If possible, you also have a Wand of Scorching Ray (with only 10 charges) and a Wand of Invisibility (again, mere 10 charges).

For spells, you probably want Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Longstrider (Travel domain), and ... I dunno... Doom? If it works, it's a nice advantage.

For feats, let's see: Weapon Focus (Greatsword), Power Attack, and Iron Will; lose the shield, go two-handed murder all the way.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

If you're allowed non-Core -- specifically, if you're allowed PHB-II -- it's really, really hard to argue with a Conjurer, because of the Immediate Magic option (Abrupt Jaunt). Basically, you can avoid a Charge attack 4/day (assuming Int bonus +4).

At last, a power-up for conjuration!

Cheese, -- N

 

[Mistwell]

I can think of no stronger endorsement for BEING the raging, charging barbarian.

I can. The barbarian will not be useful against an invisible flying spellcaster. Nor even a charm person, or sleep, or many will save spells. Which is why I said don't focus on hit points. You will be dead in melee on the ground regardless of hit points. Win initiative, get into the air, and get invisible. Then attack.