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The Art of the Covenant: A Guide to Invokers (By Cazzeo)
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<blockquote data-quote="Veep" data-source="post: 6708046" data-attributes="member: 6793297"><p style="text-align: center"></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Ability Scores</strong></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: Purple"><strong>Strength</strong></span>: Usually this or Charisma is your ideal dump stat, although, if you’re going for heavier armor than chain, Strength 13 is necessary.</p><p><strong>Recommended Score</strong>: 8-13, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Constitution</strong></span>: Wrathvokers will generally set this to 16, and some Malvokers as well. Con grants more hit points and surges and is an important part of many riders, especially Wrath riders. Also relevant to Lyrandar Windrider. Even for Int-based invokers, this should probably be their third highest stat.</p><p><strong>Recommended Score</strong>: 10-16, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Purple"><strong>Dexterity</strong></span>: You don’t want a negative initiative modifier, but, other than that, there’s no reason to bump Dexterity (you’ll almost always be taking Battlewise). Dexterity could conceivably be used as a secondary stat in some weird builds. If you take Battlewise very early, this could conceivably now be a dump stat for some builds.</p><p><strong>Recommended Score</strong>: 8-13, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Intelligence</strong></span>: The secondary stat for most Preservation invokers and many Malediction invokers. Intelligence factors in the riders of many Preservation and defensive powers. It is also quite important if you want to be smart and skilled (driving Arcana, History, and Religion checks). If you wear light armor, Intelligence is also critical for your AC. Also relevant for Devoted Orator, as well as MC’ing wizard to use an Orb of Nimble Thoughts for Int to initiative. Again, most Int-vokers will place this at a 16 pre-racial-mods.</p><p><strong>Recommended Score</strong>: 10-16, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: GoldenRod"><strong>Wisdom</strong></span>: The primary stat of invokers. All your attacks are based on this skill, as well as your Insight skill, and your initiative (via Battlewise).</p><p><strong>Recommended Score</strong>: 16-18, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Purple"><strong>Charisma</strong></span>: The other possibility for a dump stat. Sometimes you might keep this up a bit if you’re making use of Intimidate/Diplomacy or wanting to use Morninglord riders.</p><p><strong>Recommended Score</strong>: 8-14, before racial adjustments</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Races</strong></span></p><p></p><p>A quick glance at races reveals <strong>Deva</strong>, <strong>Githzerai</strong>, and <strong>Shardmind</strong> as the Wis/Int choices, and <strong>Dwarf</strong>, <strong>Duergar</strong>, <strong>Mul</strong>, <strong>Half-Elf</strong>, and <strong>Wilden</strong> as the Wis/Con choices. <strong>Shadar-Kai</strong> also make excellent invokers due to the Doom of Jiksidur feat. The remaining Wis-boosting races are examined below.</p><p></p><p><strong>Wisdom+2 Races</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Deva</strong></span> (PHB2): If you’re going into epic, Deva are my pick for the best Wis/Int race in the game, due to the phenomenal epic destiny Soul of the World, which can allow them to pick up any racial benefit they were otherwise missing. Prior to epic levels, they’re certainly no worse than Shardminds and Githzerais, since their Memory racial is great.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Githzerai</strong></span> (PHB3): Githzerai are another great option for Wis/Int invokers. The feat Covenant Shifting can be quite good in certain sliding-based builds. Iron Mind is a pretty good racial, too, with lots of feat support.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Shardmind</strong></span> (PHB3): Shardmind have telepathy, which is very cool, and interesting feat support. Some of the healing surge stuff could be interesting as a Wis/Con invoker, too. They also have the excellent control-oriented paragon path, Gatekeeper, which invokers can exploit well due to nice sliding powers (Celestia line).</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Dwarf</strong></span> (PHB): Dwarves make excellent Wis/Con Wrathvokers. Strong feat support, minor second wind. They can even be interesting as Wis/Int Flame of Hopes for the minor second wind with Flame of Hope.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Half-Elf</strong></span> (PHB): Half-elves may be the new kings of the Wis/Con invokers. Dilettante+Versatile Master is obscenely powerful (here, for example, you could become an enabler with Direct the Strike). Half-elves are also the specified race for Mark of Storm/Lyrandar Windrider (making an effective argument for DMs to let you take them).</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Mul</strong></span> (DSCS): Muls are fantastic Wis/Con invokers, but you may run into issues with divine characters being frowned upon in Dark Sun. Incredible Toughness is a ridiculously strong racial combined with some of the Malediction-style daze/stun penalties (especially the giant stun malediction “burst +3 but stun yourself” kicker).</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Wilden</strong></span> (PHB3): The stats match, but it’s hard to get too excited about Wilden invokers. Pursuit of the Hunter can be useful for moving away from baddies, and Voyage of the Ancients is nice for free CA.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Hamadryad</strong></span> (HotFW): Spellbinding Beauty is great for getting CA with a multiattack or area power, and the stats line up for Intvokers. No real feat support though.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Duergar</strong></span> (MM): No real feat support, MM race. Other than bumping Wis+Con, not much to recommend them.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Human</strong></span> (PHB): Humans are one of the best races, due to Heroic Effort's incredible synergy with multitarget controller powers. Adroit Explorer is also never a bad choice for a paragon path.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Kalashtar</strong></span> (EPG): Kalashtar might be a decent choice if you want Cha for Morninglord.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Drow</strong></span> (HotFK): The drow racials are really nice. It’s conceivable they could make decent invokers.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Shadar-Kai</strong></span> (HoS): The feat support for the racial is fantastic for invokers, most notably the Doom of Jiksidur feat, which can be used to turn Thunder of Judgment into daze+prone right at level 1.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Elf</strong></span> (PHB): Elf is never a bad choice due to Elven Accuracy.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Black"><strong>Shifters (both types)</strong></span> (PHB2): Not a bad choice (longtooth damage bonus is decent), but you don’t really expect to make use of that racial very often.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Black"><strong>Goliath</strong></span> (PHB2): Not much to recommend Goliaths as invokers, other than having Wisdom.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Black"><strong>Minotaur</strong></span> (PHB3): See Goliath. Now that Battlewise is a feat, little reason to play a minotaur.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Black"><strong>Thri-Kreen</strong></span> (DSCS): See Goliath. This is more of a melee character. The claws racial isn’t terrible if you’re a close blast specialist, I guess, but there are better options. Also has the divine + Dark Sun problem.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Black"><strong>Bladeling</strong></span> (MM): No real feat support, MM race. Other than bumping Wis, not much to recommend them.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Non-Wisdom Races</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p></p><p>For most of these races, you’d have to buy an 18 Wis to make them (almost) playable.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Black"><strong>Tiefling</strong></span> (PHB): Tieflings make interesting Malvokers due to some combos with Infernal Malediction and Skull Mask/Talisman of Terror for imposing and some fear optimization. Overall, not as good as they were pre-Essentials when you could use Infernal Wrath as a minor, though.[/b][/color].</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Purple"><strong>Dragonborn</strong></span> (PHB): Some breath tricks and interesting feats might make this almost playable for a Con-voker.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Purple"><strong>Revenant</strong></span> (HoS): Interesting flavor for a Con-voker, might factor into making some builds playable.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Purple"><strong>Genasi</strong></span> (FrPG): Also interesting flavor for an Int-voker, and manifestations are cool. Probably another almost-playable race.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Crimson"><strong>Everything Else</strong></span>: Anything not mentioned I consider a bad option.</p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Backgrounds and Character Themes</strong></span></p><p></p><p><strong>Backgrounds</strong></p><p>[sblock] </p><p>Very few backgrounds have significant mechanical benefits, so I just mention the most important ones.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Hit Points = to Wis</strong></span> (For Int-vokers): Auspicious Birth/Born Under a Bad Sign (D366) or Implitur (FRPG)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Perception as a Class Skill</strong></span> (For Con-vokers): Forest Warden/Detective/Missing Master (D366) or Aglarond (FRPG)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Dungeoneering as a Class Skill</strong></span>: Noble Scion/Apprentice of Sinister Cabal/Seeker for the Lost Clan (D366) or East Rift (FRPG)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Monster Knowledge Bonuses/Rerolls</strong></span>: Adventurer’s Scion (D371) or Monster Hunter (D366)</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Initiative Bonuses/Rerolls</strong></span>: Dalelands/Vilhon Wilds (FRPG) or Officer Who Came Out of Retirement/Trained from Birth for a Specific Prophecy (D366)</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p><strong>Character Themes</strong></p><p>[sblock]</p><p>The best themes for invoker are those that give something for free (a free/no/minor/immediate action). I have only bothered to include blue or better themes, although some others might be situationally good (Outlaw, Son of Alagondar, Infernal Slave, Primordial Adept, Xaositect, etc.) Most invokers will go with <strong>Beguiler</strong>, <strong>Ooze Master</strong>, or <strong>Knight-Hospitaler</strong>. </p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Beguiler</strong></span>: The starting feature to this theme is great, and the rest of it isn't bad.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Blackstaff Apprentice</strong></span>: A minor action Magic Missile is nice, but it kind of pales in comparison to Beguiler or Ooze Master's much more useful minor actions.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Devil's Pawn</strong></span> (NW): The entry power to this theme is pretty strong. Free damage without needing an attack roll, and free penalty to attack rolls and defenses. The rest of the theme is meh, but who cares?</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Elemental Initiate</strong></span> (HotEC): The features are all useful: ki focus proficiency, +1 to Will, extra skill. The weapon attack is probably more useful on a hybrid invoker, but it's still not bad.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Fey Beast Tamer</strong></span> (HotFW): This theme can be great for getting CA with powers like Rain of Blood, etc.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Ghost of the Past</strong></span>: A reroll is incredible for a single target class. Alas, most of your abilities are multitarget. This is more of a striker theme. If you have good single target power swaps, like, say, Charm Beast, this might be sky blue.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Halaster's Clone</strong></span>: A nice move utility and a bonus to initiative make this a pretty good theme.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Infernal Prince</strong></span> (BoVD): This could conceivably be good if you can find a way to convert your attacks to fire (invoker does have quite a few untyped damage powers which could be converted). Otherwise, it's <span style="color: Crimson"><strong>bad</strong></span>.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Knight Hospitaler</strong></span>: Shielding Word is a fantastic power. The rest of the theme is meh, but getting a free immediate power usable 2x encounter at level 10 is great.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Noble Adept</strong></span>: Adept’s Insight is a fantastic free action power, and the power point opens up some additional feats/possibilities (especially for Shadar-Kai looking to use Darkening Mind). The lack of a level 5 or 10 feature keep this from sky blue, though.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Occultist</strong></span>: The features of this theme are rather unexciting, but the U2 Twisting Fortune is incredible, allowing you triple rerolls at the cost of surges (which you might have a lot of as a Wrathvoker). The drawback is this is more of a single target nova thing, as you don't really want to spend three surges for one ToJ, for example.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: DarkTurquoise"><strong>Ooze Master</strong></span>: A minor action control power makes this an excellent theme, and the U6 Celerity Jelly is a nice swap.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Order Adept</strong></span>: Better at low levels, when you still might use Argent Rain. At higher levels, this extra encounter power just becomes a waste. The rest is decent, though, with access to wizard utility powers.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Sarifal Feywarden</strong></span>: Mentioned only because some people might want to build lightning or thunder blastery invokers, and this is a great theme for that.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Scholar</strong></span>: Inimical Lore is really nice, since invokers have quite a few untyped powers that could be turned to thunder and enlarged with Resounding Thunder. A Devoted Orator Int-based thunder build would love this. Even the Con-builds might find a use for it.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Seer</strong></span>: Nice rp path that gives you a free pre-combat ability and some nice skill bonuses. If you can get Perception on your class skill list, and if you have someone in the group with reroll abilities (you, if you're a cleric hybrid with Favor of the Gods), then this path becomes even better.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Sohei</strong></span>: This theme is mentioned primarily for hybrid invoker/strikers, as the extra minor action attack is nice. For straight invokers, <span style="color: Crimson"><strong>don't bother</strong></span>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Templar</strong></span>: The Templar theme is just full of powers of all types (level 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10) that are superior/equivalent to those that an invoker gets (especially a non-Wrath invoker). If you’re starting at epic or you’re a Wrath-voker, I wouldn’t take this theme. But, for everyone else, the power swaps are really interesting, even losing your manifestation on the daily/encounter powers.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: MediumBlue"><strong>Yakuza</strong></span>: Amazing theme, but invokers don't typically invest in Charisma. The reroll U2 is incredible, though, so the theme is worth mentioning.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock] </p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Veep, post: 6708046, member: 6793297"] [CENTER][/CENTER] [Size=5][b]Ability Scores[/b][/size] [COLOR=Purple][b]Strength[/b][/COLOR]: Usually this or Charisma is your ideal dump stat, although, if you’re going for heavier armor than chain, Strength 13 is necessary. [b]Recommended Score[/b]: 8-13, before racial adjustments [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Constitution[/b][/COLOR]: Wrathvokers will generally set this to 16, and some Malvokers as well. Con grants more hit points and surges and is an important part of many riders, especially Wrath riders. Also relevant to Lyrandar Windrider. Even for Int-based invokers, this should probably be their third highest stat. [b]Recommended Score[/b]: 10-16, before racial adjustments [COLOR=Purple][b]Dexterity[/b][/COLOR]: You don’t want a negative initiative modifier, but, other than that, there’s no reason to bump Dexterity (you’ll almost always be taking Battlewise). Dexterity could conceivably be used as a secondary stat in some weird builds. If you take Battlewise very early, this could conceivably now be a dump stat for some builds. [b]Recommended Score[/b]: 8-13, before racial adjustments [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Intelligence[/b][/COLOR]: The secondary stat for most Preservation invokers and many Malediction invokers. Intelligence factors in the riders of many Preservation and defensive powers. It is also quite important if you want to be smart and skilled (driving Arcana, History, and Religion checks). If you wear light armor, Intelligence is also critical for your AC. Also relevant for Devoted Orator, as well as MC’ing wizard to use an Orb of Nimble Thoughts for Int to initiative. Again, most Int-vokers will place this at a 16 pre-racial-mods. [b]Recommended Score[/b]: 10-16, before racial adjustments [COLOR=GoldenRod][b]Wisdom[/b][/COLOR]: The primary stat of invokers. All your attacks are based on this skill, as well as your Insight skill, and your initiative (via Battlewise). [b]Recommended Score[/b]: 16-18, before racial adjustments [COLOR=Purple][b]Charisma[/b][/COLOR]: The other possibility for a dump stat. Sometimes you might keep this up a bit if you’re making use of Intimidate/Diplomacy or wanting to use Morninglord riders. [b]Recommended Score[/b]: 8-14, before racial adjustments [CENTER][/CENTER] [Size=3][b]Races[/b][/size] A quick glance at races reveals [b]Deva[/b], [b]Githzerai[/b], and [b]Shardmind[/b] as the Wis/Int choices, and [b]Dwarf[/b], [b]Duergar[/b], [b]Mul[/b], [b]Half-Elf[/b], and [b]Wilden[/b] as the Wis/Con choices. [b]Shadar-Kai[/b] also make excellent invokers due to the Doom of Jiksidur feat. The remaining Wis-boosting races are examined below. [b]Wisdom+2 Races[/b] [sblock] [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Deva[/b][/COLOR] (PHB2): If you’re going into epic, Deva are my pick for the best Wis/Int race in the game, due to the phenomenal epic destiny Soul of the World, which can allow them to pick up any racial benefit they were otherwise missing. Prior to epic levels, they’re certainly no worse than Shardminds and Githzerais, since their Memory racial is great. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Githzerai[/b][/COLOR] (PHB3): Githzerai are another great option for Wis/Int invokers. The feat Covenant Shifting can be quite good in certain sliding-based builds. Iron Mind is a pretty good racial, too, with lots of feat support. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Shardmind[/b][/COLOR] (PHB3): Shardmind have telepathy, which is very cool, and interesting feat support. Some of the healing surge stuff could be interesting as a Wis/Con invoker, too. They also have the excellent control-oriented paragon path, Gatekeeper, which invokers can exploit well due to nice sliding powers (Celestia line). [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Dwarf[/b][/COLOR] (PHB): Dwarves make excellent Wis/Con Wrathvokers. Strong feat support, minor second wind. They can even be interesting as Wis/Int Flame of Hopes for the minor second wind with Flame of Hope. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Half-Elf[/b][/COLOR] (PHB): Half-elves may be the new kings of the Wis/Con invokers. Dilettante+Versatile Master is obscenely powerful (here, for example, you could become an enabler with Direct the Strike). Half-elves are also the specified race for Mark of Storm/Lyrandar Windrider (making an effective argument for DMs to let you take them). [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Mul[/b][/COLOR] (DSCS): Muls are fantastic Wis/Con invokers, but you may run into issues with divine characters being frowned upon in Dark Sun. Incredible Toughness is a ridiculously strong racial combined with some of the Malediction-style daze/stun penalties (especially the giant stun malediction “burst +3 but stun yourself” kicker). [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Wilden[/b][/COLOR] (PHB3): The stats match, but it’s hard to get too excited about Wilden invokers. Pursuit of the Hunter can be useful for moving away from baddies, and Voyage of the Ancients is nice for free CA. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Hamadryad[/b][/COLOR] (HotFW): Spellbinding Beauty is great for getting CA with a multiattack or area power, and the stats line up for Intvokers. No real feat support though. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Duergar[/b][/COLOR] (MM): No real feat support, MM race. Other than bumping Wis+Con, not much to recommend them. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Human[/b][/COLOR] (PHB): Humans are one of the best races, due to Heroic Effort's incredible synergy with multitarget controller powers. Adroit Explorer is also never a bad choice for a paragon path. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Kalashtar[/b][/COLOR] (EPG): Kalashtar might be a decent choice if you want Cha for Morninglord. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Drow[/b][/COLOR] (HotFK): The drow racials are really nice. It’s conceivable they could make decent invokers. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Shadar-Kai[/b][/COLOR] (HoS): The feat support for the racial is fantastic for invokers, most notably the Doom of Jiksidur feat, which can be used to turn Thunder of Judgment into daze+prone right at level 1. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Elf[/b][/COLOR] (PHB): Elf is never a bad choice due to Elven Accuracy. [COLOR=Black][b]Shifters (both types)[/b][/COLOR] (PHB2): Not a bad choice (longtooth damage bonus is decent), but you don’t really expect to make use of that racial very often. [COLOR=Black][b]Goliath[/b][/COLOR] (PHB2): Not much to recommend Goliaths as invokers, other than having Wisdom. [COLOR=Black][b]Minotaur[/b][/COLOR] (PHB3): See Goliath. Now that Battlewise is a feat, little reason to play a minotaur. [COLOR=Black][b]Thri-Kreen[/b][/COLOR] (DSCS): See Goliath. This is more of a melee character. The claws racial isn’t terrible if you’re a close blast specialist, I guess, but there are better options. Also has the divine + Dark Sun problem. [COLOR=Black][b]Bladeling[/b][/COLOR] (MM): No real feat support, MM race. Other than bumping Wis, not much to recommend them. [/sblock] [b]Non-Wisdom Races[/b] [sblock] For most of these races, you’d have to buy an 18 Wis to make them (almost) playable. [COLOR=Black][b]Tiefling[/b][/COLOR] (PHB): Tieflings make interesting Malvokers due to some combos with Infernal Malediction and Skull Mask/Talisman of Terror for imposing and some fear optimization. Overall, not as good as they were pre-Essentials when you could use Infernal Wrath as a minor, though.[/b][/color]. [COLOR=Purple][b]Dragonborn[/b][/COLOR] (PHB): Some breath tricks and interesting feats might make this almost playable for a Con-voker. [COLOR=Purple][b]Revenant[/b][/COLOR] (HoS): Interesting flavor for a Con-voker, might factor into making some builds playable. [COLOR=Purple][b]Genasi[/b][/COLOR] (FrPG): Also interesting flavor for an Int-voker, and manifestations are cool. Probably another almost-playable race. [COLOR=Crimson][b]Everything Else[/b][/COLOR]: Anything not mentioned I consider a bad option. [/sblock] [CENTER][/CENTER] [Size=3][b]Backgrounds and Character Themes[/b][/size] [b]Backgrounds[/b] [sblock] Very few backgrounds have significant mechanical benefits, so I just mention the most important ones. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Hit Points = to Wis[/b][/COLOR] (For Int-vokers): Auspicious Birth/Born Under a Bad Sign (D366) or Implitur (FRPG) [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Perception as a Class Skill[/b][/COLOR] (For Con-vokers): Forest Warden/Detective/Missing Master (D366) or Aglarond (FRPG) [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Dungeoneering as a Class Skill[/b][/COLOR]: Noble Scion/Apprentice of Sinister Cabal/Seeker for the Lost Clan (D366) or East Rift (FRPG) [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Monster Knowledge Bonuses/Rerolls[/b][/COLOR]: Adventurer’s Scion (D371) or Monster Hunter (D366) [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Initiative Bonuses/Rerolls[/b][/COLOR]: Dalelands/Vilhon Wilds (FRPG) or Officer Who Came Out of Retirement/Trained from Birth for a Specific Prophecy (D366) [/sblock] [b]Character Themes[/b] [sblock] The best themes for invoker are those that give something for free (a free/no/minor/immediate action). I have only bothered to include blue or better themes, although some others might be situationally good (Outlaw, Son of Alagondar, Infernal Slave, Primordial Adept, Xaositect, etc.) Most invokers will go with [b]Beguiler[/b], [b]Ooze Master[/b], or [b]Knight-Hospitaler[/b]. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Beguiler[/b][/COLOR]: The starting feature to this theme is great, and the rest of it isn't bad. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Blackstaff Apprentice[/b][/COLOR]: A minor action Magic Missile is nice, but it kind of pales in comparison to Beguiler or Ooze Master's much more useful minor actions. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Devil's Pawn[/b][/COLOR] (NW): The entry power to this theme is pretty strong. Free damage without needing an attack roll, and free penalty to attack rolls and defenses. The rest of the theme is meh, but who cares? [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Elemental Initiate[/b][/COLOR] (HotEC): The features are all useful: ki focus proficiency, +1 to Will, extra skill. The weapon attack is probably more useful on a hybrid invoker, but it's still not bad. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Fey Beast Tamer[/b][/COLOR] (HotFW): This theme can be great for getting CA with powers like Rain of Blood, etc. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Ghost of the Past[/b][/COLOR]: A reroll is incredible for a single target class. Alas, most of your abilities are multitarget. This is more of a striker theme. If you have good single target power swaps, like, say, Charm Beast, this might be sky blue. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Halaster's Clone[/b][/COLOR]: A nice move utility and a bonus to initiative make this a pretty good theme. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Infernal Prince[/b][/COLOR] (BoVD): This could conceivably be good if you can find a way to convert your attacks to fire (invoker does have quite a few untyped damage powers which could be converted). Otherwise, it's [COLOR=Crimson][b]bad[/b][/COLOR]. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Knight Hospitaler[/b][/COLOR]: Shielding Word is a fantastic power. The rest of the theme is meh, but getting a free immediate power usable 2x encounter at level 10 is great. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Noble Adept[/b][/COLOR]: Adept’s Insight is a fantastic free action power, and the power point opens up some additional feats/possibilities (especially for Shadar-Kai looking to use Darkening Mind). The lack of a level 5 or 10 feature keep this from sky blue, though. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Occultist[/b][/COLOR]: The features of this theme are rather unexciting, but the U2 Twisting Fortune is incredible, allowing you triple rerolls at the cost of surges (which you might have a lot of as a Wrathvoker). The drawback is this is more of a single target nova thing, as you don't really want to spend three surges for one ToJ, for example. [COLOR=DarkTurquoise][b]Ooze Master[/b][/COLOR]: A minor action control power makes this an excellent theme, and the U6 Celerity Jelly is a nice swap. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Order Adept[/b][/COLOR]: Better at low levels, when you still might use Argent Rain. At higher levels, this extra encounter power just becomes a waste. The rest is decent, though, with access to wizard utility powers. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Sarifal Feywarden[/b][/COLOR]: Mentioned only because some people might want to build lightning or thunder blastery invokers, and this is a great theme for that. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Scholar[/b][/COLOR]: Inimical Lore is really nice, since invokers have quite a few untyped powers that could be turned to thunder and enlarged with Resounding Thunder. A Devoted Orator Int-based thunder build would love this. Even the Con-builds might find a use for it. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Seer[/b][/COLOR]: Nice rp path that gives you a free pre-combat ability and some nice skill bonuses. If you can get Perception on your class skill list, and if you have someone in the group with reroll abilities (you, if you're a cleric hybrid with Favor of the Gods), then this path becomes even better. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Sohei[/b][/COLOR]: This theme is mentioned primarily for hybrid invoker/strikers, as the extra minor action attack is nice. For straight invokers, [COLOR=Crimson][b]don't bother[/b][/COLOR]. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Templar[/b][/COLOR]: The Templar theme is just full of powers of all types (level 3, 5, 6, 9, and 10) that are superior/equivalent to those that an invoker gets (especially a non-Wrath invoker). If you’re starting at epic or you’re a Wrath-voker, I wouldn’t take this theme. But, for everyone else, the power swaps are really interesting, even losing your manifestation on the daily/encounter powers. [COLOR=MediumBlue][b]Yakuza[/b][/COLOR]: Amazing theme, but invokers don't typically invest in Charisma. The reroll U2 is incredible, though, so the theme is worth mentioning. [/sblock] [/QUOTE]
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The Art of the Covenant: A Guide to Invokers (By Cazzeo)
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