So, a friend of mine who has the new Dragon Magazine shuffles me over the exact details of the Thrall of Malcanthet PrC. I mention it to my group, they mention that they've all always wanted to play an evil campaign but never had the impetus or the group to do it. Yet another wants to DM said campaign, which is unusual since I'll actually get to play!
Now, I have a problem... well, ok, several problems, first and foremost being that we've never done this before.
My second problem, however, is creating an enchantment-focussed character, yet another first for me, and playing said character. My only caveat being that I want to take Thrall of Malcanthet as soon as possible, which would be level 7. The DM has specified that he doesn't want any of us worrying about 'filling gaps' in the party, if we don't have a cleric or a thief, he'll work in some sort of NPC for example.
The way I work it, I've got a few options for the first 6 levels.
Enchanter 3/Master Specialist 4 would make a very powerful spellcasting character... but I have to wonder if it'll be worth it? I mean, it takes one more level to get the real benefit of Master Specialist and then the lost spell levels for ToM would mean not getting 9th level spells until level 20, only one before a similar Sorcerer build.
Sorcerer seems like a great choice, synergizing all those charisma bonuses. A few feats like Divine Sorcery, Fiendish Bloodline and Fiendish Heritage would give me extra spells and open up the way for Fiendish Sorcerer Howl (meaning that I don't have to worry so much about artilery spells and can stick to enchantments). For added cheese, picking up a level in Battle Dancer would help my AC and melee potential.
These two also have the added benefit of giving me eventual access to Programmed Amnesia, a must for any evil mastermind.
Cloistered Cleric could be another good option. Lots of skill points, charm spells via Domains and with the Trickery Domain, access to most of the skill prerequsites. Makes for a surprisingly limited enchanter though. Plus, even more AC cheese if I took up a level of Battle Dancer and Mystic Wanderer... of coruse, no Cha synergy with spellcasting...
Favored Soul... tempting again for cha synergy, but lack of domains and very limited spellcasting... maybe I'm missing something, if so please let me know.
Beguiler seems perfect except, again, for the lack of Cha synergy and the limited spell selection. I would prefer a more diversified caster, but those skill points are hard to pass up. Also, most of their best abilities only acrue if you don't take any PrCs, which sort of scuppers it.
The last option is to ignore spellcasting (or leave it for the later levels) and go Rogue4/Battle Dancer 1/Barber 1/Sorc 1 before going ToM... or something like that. less spellcasting hassles, more sneaky charisma-synergy type cultist...
Right, those are my first ideas, if anyone has any other suggestions or tips, about enchanters or playing evil campaigns, please comment.
Now, I have a problem... well, ok, several problems, first and foremost being that we've never done this before.
My second problem, however, is creating an enchantment-focussed character, yet another first for me, and playing said character. My only caveat being that I want to take Thrall of Malcanthet as soon as possible, which would be level 7. The DM has specified that he doesn't want any of us worrying about 'filling gaps' in the party, if we don't have a cleric or a thief, he'll work in some sort of NPC for example.
The way I work it, I've got a few options for the first 6 levels.
Enchanter 3/Master Specialist 4 would make a very powerful spellcasting character... but I have to wonder if it'll be worth it? I mean, it takes one more level to get the real benefit of Master Specialist and then the lost spell levels for ToM would mean not getting 9th level spells until level 20, only one before a similar Sorcerer build.
Sorcerer seems like a great choice, synergizing all those charisma bonuses. A few feats like Divine Sorcery, Fiendish Bloodline and Fiendish Heritage would give me extra spells and open up the way for Fiendish Sorcerer Howl (meaning that I don't have to worry so much about artilery spells and can stick to enchantments). For added cheese, picking up a level in Battle Dancer would help my AC and melee potential.
These two also have the added benefit of giving me eventual access to Programmed Amnesia, a must for any evil mastermind.
Cloistered Cleric could be another good option. Lots of skill points, charm spells via Domains and with the Trickery Domain, access to most of the skill prerequsites. Makes for a surprisingly limited enchanter though. Plus, even more AC cheese if I took up a level of Battle Dancer and Mystic Wanderer... of coruse, no Cha synergy with spellcasting...
Favored Soul... tempting again for cha synergy, but lack of domains and very limited spellcasting... maybe I'm missing something, if so please let me know.
Beguiler seems perfect except, again, for the lack of Cha synergy and the limited spell selection. I would prefer a more diversified caster, but those skill points are hard to pass up. Also, most of their best abilities only acrue if you don't take any PrCs, which sort of scuppers it.
The last option is to ignore spellcasting (or leave it for the later levels) and go Rogue4/Battle Dancer 1/Barber 1/Sorc 1 before going ToM... or something like that. less spellcasting hassles, more sneaky charisma-synergy type cultist...
Right, those are my first ideas, if anyone has any other suggestions or tips, about enchanters or playing evil campaigns, please comment.
