Sneak Attack + Inflict Wounds?

[DreadArchon]

He has to give up a full attack action.

No he wouldn't. Produce Flame, Level 2 Druid spell, allows iterative touch attacks; Energy Substitution to suit your tastes.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

No he wouldn't. Produce Flame, Level 2 Druid spell, allows iterative touch attacks; Energy Substitution to suit your tastes.

How is that much different than a brilliant energy longsword which a non-cleric could have?

DS

 

[DreadArchon]

How is that much different than a brilliant energy longsword which a non-cleric could have?

I suppose it's not, really. I was going to say "cheaper," but if you were just a pure Rogue and you were buying wands, that actually might not end up being the case.

 

[frankthedm]

How is that much different than a brilliant energy longsword which a non-cleric could have?

In many ways.

A +4 market price modifier is huge.
It only bypasses shields and armor [does not bypass natural armor]
undead, constructs, and objects are immune to the brilliant energy weapon.
Must have a 16th level creator.

 

[James McMurray]

Swing a Flame Blade / Pruduce Flame at a Great Wyrm's natural armor, then swing a Brilliant Energy weapon at him. There can be a huge difference when the GM is looing to challenge you. of course, if the dragon happens to be red, it's the Flame attacks that starts to look useless.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

In many ways.
undead, constructs, and objects are immune to the brilliant energy weapon.

And are, also, immune to sneak attack.
DS

 

[frankthedm]

I suppose it's not, really. I was going to say "cheaper," but if you were just a pure Rogue and you were buying wands, that actually might not end up being the case.

You'd have to be overpaying for that to be the case.

Flame blade wand, energy substituted as needed 4500 gp

Produce flame wand, energy substituted as needed 5th level casting 3,750 gp

+1 Brilaint energy weapon 50,000

 

[frankthedm]

And are, also, immune to sneak attack.
DS

but with the wands you still may be able to harm them. The brillant energy weapon is a 50,000gp torch in that situation.

 

[DreadArchon]

You'd have to be overpaying for that to be the case.

Flame blade wand, energy substituted as needed 4500 gp

Produce flame wand, energy substituted as needed 5th level casting 3,750 gp

+1 Brilaint energy weapon 50,000

Except that you can only perform a number of melee strikes with Produce Flame equal to [Caster Level - 1]. I was assuming that you'd want it to last a couple rounds, thus upping the caster level by a few when you get to higher levels.

Further, the fact remains that these things are expendable, whereas the Brilliant Energy is only an issue if your DM is Disjunctioning or Sundering. (Not that there aren't ways to deprive a PC of his wands, of course.)

Now, if you ARE a Druid (or a Cleric of the Fire Domain, IIRC), all you really need is the Practiced Spellcaster feat. And maybe a level in Assassin followed by a couple levels of Dragon Disciple, thus granting you +2 uses of Produce Element (DD bonus spells don't have to be arcane) and the ability to follow your iterative Element Touch attacks with natural weapon attacks. (That's only a 6-level derail, and it gets you more HP, Poison Use, Predator Form, Woodland Stride, some zany Druid skills that you can sub out for Cityscape class options, freedom from the need for UMD, and some spells, in addition to the above-listed goodies. Hmmm, I feel a build coming on.)

Of course, if the dragon happens to be red, it's the Flame attacks that starts to look useless.

Hence the Energy Subsitution.

Edit: I mean, heck, if you're buying multiples anyway, you might as well get different elements!

 

[Aust Diamondew]

No he wouldn't. Produce Flame, Level 2 Druid spell, allows iterative touch attacks; Energy Substitution to suit your tastes.

Very good idea. You could even switch to ranged touch attacks at the cost of duration if necessary to hit far off foes or better yet stay out of melee!