Adventuring in Undermountain, anyone?

[LadyTevar]

So... since Hotfoot's shown off his Twinkery...

Can someone please tell Nitram what he should fuckin' play already?

[Rogue 9]

Jesus, you call pixie rogue twinkery? It's just an obvious synergy of the class that gets the most benefit from being invisible and a race that's invisible all the fucking time. There's no effort involved in that.

[Hotfoot]

It's really abuse of the D&D level adjustment/CR system. I mean, those stat boosts, those spell like abilities, those natural defenses? All for LA 4? Dear god, the only thing that makes it MORE ridiculous is that adding a single 1/day spell boosts the whole thing by 2 levels? Absurd! Especially if I can finagle some of those fancy arrows.

[General Havoc]

Honestly, my build isn't a blaster. It's damage will drop off precipitously compared to everyone else. This is designed. It's not meant to deal damage. It's meant to slap 'Save or lose' or 'No save, just lose' penalties on everything we find so the party can do their thing.

My god, my main mode of attack always offers a chance for half-damage!

That was largely the style of Cleric I was gonna go for. Buffing, Debuffing, Healing at need of course, protection breaching, and at higher levels, skewering people with lovely flamboyant things like Flame Strike, Harm, Destruction, or other things I likely don't yet know about. Yes, I know that you guys will have more SAVE OR DIE mechanics than I can shake a stick at, but what's the use of a fire and brimstone preacher if he can't burn or sulfurize on occasion? :D

But I do have one question:

Non-direct damage spells DO still have a visual effect, do they not? I'd feel kinda foolish casting things that had no visible effects with the level of... erm... zeal that I will be displaying.

[SirNitram]

My rule of thumb is that any spell that affects others has a visual effect. In the case of buffs, it may fade after the casting, but blasting someone with a save-crippler will definitely be visible.

[B4UTRUST]

Here is my sheet so far. Comments/critiques welcome.

Rogue, I need to know the limit/starting equipment that I can get so I can do that up. I've got a list of things I need/want, just need some clarification on starting stuff.

[Jason_Firewalker]

The duskblade is the quinessential sniper character, but an even better choice is to use your spellcraft ability to make new spells for your list. That way you can get stuff and things such as fireball and blindness/deafness

...

Where the hell did you get that idea? If classes with limited spell lists could do that, you would think it would turn up a lot more in the uber-cheese builds CharOp throws around.

There are rules in the DMG for spell crafting and creation using the Spellcraft skill, you just need to make a bunch of spellcraft checks, beating a certain dc and spend gp in spell components and research materials equal to a certain ammount, kinda like crafting an item

[Cynical Cat]

The duskblade is the quinessential sniper character, but an even better choice is to use your spellcraft ability to make new spells for your list. That way you can get stuff and things such as fireball and blindness/deafness

...

Where the hell did you get that idea? If classes with limited spell lists could do that, you would think it would turn up a lot more in the uber-cheese builds CharOp throws around.

There are rules in the DMG for spell crafting and creation using the Spellcraft skill, you just need to make a bunch of spellcraft checks, beating a certain dc and spend gp in spell components and research materials equal to a certain ammount, kinda like crafting an item

Sure you can. The DM, however, has to approve the spell as being appropriate for the spell list and level. A variant of Fireball isn't out of the question for a duskblade, they do have area of effect combat spells, but don't expect to be able to get it just because you want it.

[Jason_Firewalker]

...

Where the hell did you get that idea? If classes with limited spell lists could do that, you would think it would turn up a lot more in the uber-cheese builds CharOp throws around.

There are rules in the DMG for spell crafting and creation using the Spellcraft skill, you just need to make a bunch of spellcraft checks, beating a certain dc and spend gp in spell components and research materials equal to a certain ammount, kinda like crafting an item

Sure you can. The DM, however, has to approve the spell as being appropriate for the spell list and level. A variant of Fireball isn't out of the question for a duskblade, they do have area of effect combat spells, but don't expect to be able to get it just because you want it.

I totally agree and was not saying that it was going to be possiable for him to spend weeks of game time crafting spells that are already covered by other members of the party. Also, incase anyone wants to know, crafting new spells takes HUGE ammounts of time and more gold then a Great Wyrm Gold can shake a stick at.

[Cynical Cat]

Also, incase anyone wants to know, crafting new spells takes HUGE ammounts of time and more gold then a Great Wyrm Gold can shake a stick at.

[Nalifan] For some of you, yes it probably does.[/Nalifan]

[Rogue 9]

Starting gold at first level is defined by your class. Rogues get 5d4x10 gp, or an average of 125 gold pieces. You can take the average or risk rolling for it; your choice. Except for one set of clothing, all your equipment comes out of that, mundane stuff included. Yes, that means even the most minor of magic items takes up a large chunk of your budget at first level and most of them are out of reach.

Also: Exotic Weapon Proficiency requires +1 BAB. Going to have to wait for that spiked chain, Mr. Rogue.

[rhoenix]

Also: Exotic Weapon Proficiency requires +1 BAB. Going to have to wait for that spiked chain, Mr. Rogue.

But it would work just fine for a Duskblade.

Despite not having much time to work on my character, I've been slowly working out a few details here and there with a number of people. I should have the character sheet done by the weekend, I hope.

Feats are still giving me trouble, but tentatively I have them as Weapon Focus (Spiked Chain), Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise, and that's it. I was actually thinking of three of the Combat Stance feats from the PHB2 (Combat Focus, Combat Vigor, and Combat Strike) to round out the last three feat slots for this character's build, but I'd welcome feedback on that.

[SirNitram]

Combat reflexes, spiked chain, combat expertise?

Get. Improved. Trip.

The hilarity of knocking people over again and again is worth it.

[rhoenix]

Combat reflexes, spiked chain, combat expertise?

Get. Improved. Trip.

The hilarity of knocking people over again and again is worth it.

Damn, when you put it like that, it does sound tempting.

Hotfoot was trying mightily to convince me to go with the Spiked Chain - given that my character's damage will primarily come from his weapon, are the only advantages a greatsword (my original choice) offers a higher critical range (19-20 x2 instead of 20 x2), and two higher die worth of damage (2d6 instead of 2d4)?

Otherwise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Spiked Chain), Weapon Focus (Spiked Chain), Power Attack, Improved Trip, Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise, and...one more feat.

[Rogue 9]

Spiked chain is one of the best weapons in the game... for a fighter. For everyone else, the feat spent on proficiency may or may not be worth it, depending on the rest of the build; for those who are not fighters, burning a feat to be proficient in one weapon (one that doesn't turn up in treasure very often, at that) is rarely worth the expenditure on a purely power-based reckoning, since you get a grand total of seven feats over twenty levels (compared to the fighter's 18, 19 if he's human) that you could potentially be doing much better things with.

[rhoenix]

Spiked chain is one of the best weapons in the game... for a fighter. For everyone else, the feat spent on proficiency may or may not be worth it, depending on the rest of the build; for those who are not fighters, burning a feat to be proficient in one weapon (one that doesn't turn up in treasure very often, at that) is rarely worth the expenditure on a purely power-based reckoning, since you get a grand total of seven feats over twenty levels (compared to the fighter's 18, 19 if he's human) that you could potentially be doing much better things with.

That's an excellent point actually, since my character will only have the stock 7 feats to throw around.

Anyone else have a different view?

[SirNitram]

If you're human and from the North, Jotunbrad means Trip attempts and the like treat you as Large.

Otherwise, grab Deft Opportunist, it grants +4 to Attacks of Opportunity. Which trigger everytime someone tries to stand, and you can just make it another trip.

[Hotfoot]

The utility of the spiked chain is far more than just useful for a fighter. It's a two-handed weapon, which means strength and a half for anyone using it. It can take advantage of weapon finesse. Power attack takes advantage of the two-handed bonus, you create a massive threat zone for attacks of opportunity, create large zones of flanking for allies, and all without the limitations normally associated with reach weapons. Plus you can create nasty ranked fighting styles by which chainfighters sit behind the normal tanks and still have the ability to keep flankers from the squishies.

Now, yes, it doesn't appear in treasure much, but that's where crafting your own magic weapon comes into play.

[rhoenix]

Now, yes, it doesn't appear in treasure much, but that's where crafting your own magic weapon comes into play.

Rogue9, is it possible to find a mage or someone in a large city that would enchant a masterwork weapon for a fee? Or would this have to go through one of the PC's?

[General Havoc]

All right, my character is functionally complete, and can be found here.

I decided to go with Divine Metamagic Quickening fun. I might add Persistence later, but for now it will do nicely. Some Extra Turning to enable me to use it more than once, and I'll be simul-buffing/debuffing before you know it.

[Rogue 9]

Now, yes, it doesn't appear in treasure much, but that's where crafting your own magic weapon comes into play.

Rogue9, is it possible to find a mage or someone in a large city that would enchant a masterwork weapon for a fee? Or would this have to go through one of the PC's?

Is it possible to find someone who can enhance a masterwork weapon in Waterdeep, he asks.

Anyway, pursuant to starting equipment, I forgot to mention. This being a Realms campaign, the region rules for the setting are in effect, including region-based bonus starting equipment. Refer to the Player's Guide to Faerun, or ask me to explain if you don't have access to it.

[B4UTRUST]

Alright, I'll swap the EWP out with improved trip. And I'll do up my budgeting tonight. Thanks.

Guess no team cuisinart till lvl 3.

[rhoenix]

Is it possible to find someone who can enhance a masterwork weapon in Waterdeep, he asks.

Alright, alright - I wanted to be sure.

I'll tinker more with the concepts tonight - I'm still having troubles deciding between the new shiny object (spiked chain), and the ol' standby (the greatsword).

[B4UTRUST]

Anyone wanting copies of the faerun book I've got it for distro. Also, just finished grapping all 32 of the quintessential books.

[B4UTRUST]

Anyone wanting copies of the faerun book I've got it for distro. Also, just finished grapping all 32 of the quintessential books.

Edit:

Oh, and Rogue, just like I refuse to take more then two flaws for nothing, i'll gladly take my 170 starting gold, thank you very much ^_^.