Unsettling Enchantment + Beguiler = win

[Wolfwood2]

So when my Beguiler reached 3rd level, I had a hard time choosing between Improved Initiative and Unsettling Enchantment from Complete Mage.

For those of you who don't have CompM, Unsettling Enchantment gives any creature that has to make a save against one of your Enchantment spells a small penalty to AC and attack for one round, whether it passed the save or not.

I chose Unsettling Enchantment and I'm glad I did. The big problem with Enchantment spells is that they are so all or nothing. If the creature makes its save, then nothing happens. With Unsettling Enchantment, then even if the creature makes its save I still feel like I've made a contribution to combat that round, however small.

It might be more of a psychological benefit than great from a number-crunching mechanical perspective, but it feels pretty darn good in play.

Also by taking Distract Assailant with Advanced Learning, I can spam an opponent with a swift action enchantment spell every round, even if I'm doing something else with my standard action. A flatfooted, Unsettled, antagonist is easy meat for the party barbarian.

Just felt like saying that.

 

[Nifft]

Interesting! I had thought it a tad underpowered. Looks like in practice it has a lot of value. I like Beguilers, so I'll have to give this a try some time.

Thanks! -- N

 

[Darklone]

Don't ever underestimate a +1 or -1 to anything. Noone ever liked my bard multiclass till one of the newbie players started to count per evening how often the bard song made a difference.

The combo sounds nice. Might be building a beguiler soon, never tried one yet.

 

[JRR_Talking]

yeah i like those feats

cloudy conjuration im taking for my warmage

 

[Hypersmurf]

Don't ever underestimate a +1 or -1 to anything. Noone ever liked my bard multiclass till one of the newbie players started to count per evening how often the bard song made a difference.

Our gestalt bard/marshal Olad started doing that... especially once someone pointed out that since he was considered to be his own ally, he probably referred to himself in the third person.

So now, every time the bard song or marshal aura makes a difference, he's "Did you see that? The Olad did that." "That right there? The Olad strikes again." "Ooh, that miss? That was you. But that hit? That was the Olad."

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

So now, every time the bard song or marshal aura makes a difference, he's "Did you see that? The Olad did that." "That right there? The Olad strikes again." "Ooh, that miss? That was you. But that hit? That was the Olad."

-Hyp.

Hehehehehehehe.

"Who shot that arrow into my back?!?!?"- "The Olad did that!" ... running away.

 

[RefinedBean]

Also have to second the "Don't discount +1/-1" goodness. It always non-pluses me how some people just don't see how beneficial it can be.

Example: Low level barbarian double-fisting a waraxe, has Power Attack, wondering if she should take Weapon Focus. +1 to hit = easy -1 for powerattack = +2 damage per hit. An effective change to your attack of 0, 2 more damage. And who says D&D's math isn't crazy?

p.s. Wait, no one says that.

 

[Kat']

Also have to second the "Don't discount +1/-1" goodness. It always non-pluses me how some people just don't see how beneficial it can be.

Example: Low level barbarian double-fisting a waraxe, has Power Attack, wondering if she should take Weapon Focus. +1 to hit = easy -1 for powerattack = +2 damage per hit. An effective change to your attack of 0, 2 more damage. And who says D&D's math isn't crazy?

p.s. Wait, no one says that.

Yeah, as long as the barbarian never hits level 3, it's a good feat... Otherwise a barbarian lacks feats so hard that wasting one on WF is, well, a waste. Barbarian has full BAB, high Str, and Rage, masterwork weapons are cheap, so hitting is never really a problem. On the other hand, getting Shock Trooper and Combat Brute at lvls 6 and 9 instead of 9 and 12 is much more interesting than dealing an average 2 more points of damage. There are other ways to get +1 to hit at low level which don't require the waste of a feat.