Samurai Optimization?

[Thrallherd]

Recently, I have taken the Ultimate Optimizer's challenge; optimizing a Samurai. For those who don't know, Samurai in edition 3.5 is a TWF that can only use Masterwork Bastard Swords and Short Swords, and gets various useless Charisma-Based abilities. It gas been compared in power to NPC classes like Commoner and Aristocrat.
I have made the challenge harder upon myself by adding the restriction that Samurai is the only base class I can use.
So here's what I was thinking; I was going to be a human, and take the feat Able Learner, which allows me to take any skill as if it were a class skill. I would use this to meet the requirements of Ur-Priest, which I would take levels in.
That's as far as I've gotten. There are two ways I can see going with this.
Way 1- Apply a powerful divine prestige class to Ur-Priest.
Way 2- Try to find an arcane prestige class similar to Ur-Priest, then use Mystic Theurge to advance their casting.
Which is where I need help. Does anyone know of an arcane prestige class similar to Ur-Priest?

 

[xigbar]

By that same logic, Ur-Priest could make any base class decent. That doesn't mean it inherently imrpoves the Samurai. If you look at the tier system, it says that it only applies to straight 20 base classes. Prestige Classes have their own system for determining how much they imrpove a base class.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

This is dumb. You're not making a Samurai, you're making a gimped Ur-Priest.

And optimizing Samurai in general is dumb, because even the one thing it has potential for (escalating fear effects on foes), any trick you give them to boost that capabiliy would work just as well if not better on someone else.

 

[Dandu]

Drow of Underdark
Imperiously Command
Yet cannot save you

 

[Thrallherd]

This is dumb. You're not making a Samurai, you're making a gimped Ur-Priest.

And optimizing Samurai in general is dumb, because even the one thing it has potential for (escalating fear effects on foes), any trick you give them to boost that capabiliy would work just as well if not better on someone else.

Exactly. I am making a gimped Ur-Priest using Samurai as a base class. You see, me and my friends are having an optimization competition, bit instead of optimizing the classes best skills, our goal is to make the most powerful build possible, using Samurai as a base class.

 

[Dandu]

You're not making the Samurai better, you're making the Ur-Priest worse.

 

[Thrallherd]

Okay, but you aren't helping me with my question. Does anyone know of an arcane prestige class that works like Ur-Priest (has its own casting progression, progresses faster, etc)?

 

[Dandu]

Okay, but you aren't helping me with my question.

Apologies.

Does anyone know of an arcane prestige class that works like Ur-Priest (has its own casting progression, progresses faster, etc)?

Yes.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

It's unlikely there's an arcane version of Ur-Priest out there, but it's possible. I've checked a half dozen books and haven't found anything that grants higher than 5-th level spells.

I'm guessing you want the faster spell progression because you know you can't take Ur-Priest until after level 13, yes? Able Learner doesn't modify the max ranks a character can have in cross-class skills.

I'd recommend you change the topic title from Samurai Optimization, since you're definitely not optimizing a Samurai.

 

[emoplato]

Okay, but you aren't helping me with my question. Does anyone know of an arcane prestige class that works like Ur-Priest (has its own casting progression, progresses faster, etc)?

There is a bardic prestige class called the sublime chord which has the same spell-casting except it is arcane, however on top bardic music, you need to know 3rd level arcane spells, and is fairly skill heavy. However as many of said you aren't doing either class much good. If you really want a gishy-build take the Suel Arcanamach, on top of independent spells(though not as much) you get ignore failure chance 20%, dispelling strike, and fortified/extended spells. Then take Abjurant Champion full casting and attack, immediate counter casting, and martial arcanist BAB=caster level.