Epic Gish Build/Critque

[Fan]

Okay, I'm applying for a epic game, and it looks to be that everyone else is pretty optimized I think we have a heavy caster focus, so I'm fine with any moderately powerful options, but nothing Incatrix 1 centillion damage orbs. or anything else like Cindy. I did however get very favorable rolls.


Class levels (open to change) Wizard 5/Crusader 3/Abjurant Champion 5/ Jade Phoenix Mage 5/ Arch Mage 3

Stats: Strength: 16 base, 2 points spent, and a tome of strength +2= 20 base (26 with items) Dex 15 base +1 from levels, +2 from tome= 18 base, 24 total with items. Int 17+1 level+4 Tome=22+2 race= 24 base +6 Item. Wisdom 15 base, Charisma 14 base -2 race.12 total

Feats: (open to change)
Arcane Strike, Power Attack, Skill focus (Spell craft), Spell focus (Transmutation), Spell focus (Conjuration), Leap Attack,, Combat casting (for abj champ), Practiced Spell Caster, Scribe Scroll.

Caster level: 18 before boosters.
Initiator Level: 14.
So far 9th level spells, 7th level manuevers, a caster level of 21 with the practised spell caster, quickened abjurations till level 3, a BAB 17, a bunch of OKAY devoted spirit manuevers that I've yet to choose, and lastly a bunch of GOOD ones from JPM that I've also yet to choose.

What I'm looking for here is maybe some better feat options, and some good itme options aside from the obvious Save boosters/Stat boosters that I've already bought.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

What race are you using? Where's your Con score, or are you undead?

If you can, use the Fighter feat Wizard variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizard) from UA to get a Fighter bonus feat at Wizard 1 and 5 instead of Scribe Scroll and the usual Wizard bonus feat. Use those on Power Attack and maybe Improved Initiative if you keep five levels of Wizard.

Your current build gets 17th level spellcasting, not 18th; you only have 8th level spells at level 20. You've spent your epic feat on a general feat, which you should try to avoid doing. Your level 21 feat should be Epic Spellcasting if you can get it (need 9th level spells at 20).

I'd switch your levels to Wizard 4/ Crusader 2/ JPM 1/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Incantatrix 4/ JPM +4, then at 21 maybe get your third Crusader level or take more JPM. That gets 9th level spells and a +16 BAB at level 20, so you get four attacks/round and can take Epic Spellcasting.

Use Metamagic Effect from Incantatrix to put Persistent Spell on your buffs. Get an item that grants a Competence bonus to Spellcraft, a +30 is only 90,000 gp but anything higher than that is an epic item. It's a DC 63 to Persist a 9th level spell. You'll have 24 ranks, +15 for Int 30, and a +30 item, and you can even take ten on the check. Get Arcane Disciple for the Destiny domain from Races of Destiny, and have Persistent Choose Destiny always active. A Persistent Thunderlance with Greater Magic Weapon cast on it is probably one of the best weapons you can use, especially considering spell effects automatically bypass damage reduction, and being a force effect you can strike ethereal foes with it.

A Belt of Magnificense +6 from the Miniatures Handbook costs only 200,000 gp and grants an Enhancement bonus to all six of your stats. Not a bad choice for most characters.

Every high level character should have a Gemstone of Heavy Fortification from the Draconomicon. Cast or hire an NPC spellcaster to cast Limited Wish to embed it. It can never be removed or disarmed, and it shouldn't even be in line of effect for Disjunction or similar magic.

Considering you can get Power Attack at Wizard 1 instead of Scribe Scroll, you don't need Spell Focus or Skill Focus for Archmage, and you can use the Otyugh Hole in Complete Scoundrel to get Iron Will for 3,000 gp without spending a feat on it, your feats can go as follows: Power Attack (Wiz1), Combat Casting (1), Extend Spell (3), Practiced Spellcaster (6), Iron Will (3000 gp), Combat Reflexes (9), Arcane Strike (12), Persistent Spell (Icx1), Leap Attack (15), Quicken Spell (Icx4), Item Familiar (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/itemFamiliars.htm) (18), and Epic Spellcasting (21). You'll want Combat Reflexes if you use a Thunderlance.

Item Familiar is worth the 10% XP bonus alone, plus you can upgrade it as though you had the proper item creation feats, paying half price and a little bit of XP. Make it your Gemstone of Fortification, and add the +30 Spellcraft bonus to it. Say it started as a Gemstone of Light Fortification (3000 gp), and that you upgraded everything yourself for half price (32,000 to upgrade to heavy, 90,000 x1.5 to add +30 spellcraft) for a total cost of 86,500 gp and 6680 XP. At level 21 you'll get at least 21,000 XP from the 10% bonus it gives, so you'll still have a net gain.

Iceberg from Frostburn is one of the best spells in the game.

[Eldan]

Hey, getting help is unfair! :smalltongue:

[EarFall]

So, I just read item familiars... do most DMs allow that? An XP bonus? Really? Seems kinda nuts to me...

[Fan]

Hey, getting help is unfair! :smalltongue:

I'm house sitting currently, and have been AFB for 3 days Eldan, I had to check if my build was legal before submitting it. I'm defintely picking up the Item familiar, and that level of Incantrix, I feel safe taking that with the Ur Priest in the party, as it stands I'm not exactly optimal being a GISH, and now I have competition with another Gish guy. Besides the presistent thunder lance just SOUNDS bad ass.

[woodenbandman]

Wizards get 9th level spells at level 17, I dunno what you're talking about.

Also an extra 4 to your int will get you more than adding to any other stat. You can always buy bigger tomes. Those bonus spells go a heckuva long way, a lot longer than a static +2 damage or +1 AC.

[Eldariel]

Hey, getting help is unfair! :smalltongue:

Askin' for help is illegal....in America! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfD9nhODNio)

[weenie]

A Persistent Thunderlance with Greater Magic Weapon cast on it is probably one of the best weapons you can use, especially considering spell effects automatically bypass damage reduction, and being a force effect you can strike ethereal foes with it.

By RAW Thunderlance is a spell, not a weapon, thus you can't cast GMW on it, or any other weapon buff.

[Rad]

Why the 3 levels of Crusader? The second half of JPM progression only costs 1 caster level and taking it allows for better (higher level) maneuvers.
Wizard 4/Crusader 1/JPM 2/Abjurant Champion 5/JPM +3/Archmage 1/JPM +4/Archmage 1
You have the starting maneuvers as a crusader (you get them at IL 3, so 2nd level) and your last maneuver is gained at IL 15, giving you an 8th level maneuver. You get 9th level spells at 20 (so you can get Epic spellcasting at 21). Your BAB at level 20 is +17, so you get 4 attacks too.

What do you want to take from archmage? there are 3 feats in your build that are used only to qualify for it... I would consider spending them on extra stances and maneuvers. Moreover the crusader feat (extra granted maneuver) is just too good not to consider because it also shortens the time between maneuver refreshes. (Warblade might also be better for you than crusader but I guess you have a more thematic reason to do that).

I also second the idea that at least the points you put in Dex should go to Int instead. Remember that a bonus spell slot via arcane strike is worth about as much as a +1 on the Str modifier. And you might just use it as a regular spell instead for greater effectiveness and flexibility. For the same reason (more spell slots) I would consider a focused specialist.

Hope this helps.