Nich_Critic
2009-12-02, 11:23 PM
I'm currently a necropolitan star elf Dread Necro 4 in a party of ECL 6 (lost one level due to death, and another due to undeath). When I made the character, the plan was to take Dread Necro 8/DreadWitch (HoH) 4/Nighmare Spinner(CMage) 3/filler 5 and be a fear master. However, upon further thought, I'm rethinking those choices.
First off, the Nightmare spinner. It's a very illusion focused prc which for starters gives me immunity to fear (redundant, I already have it), lets me apply fear effects to illusions (but I don't have many that qualify), and gives me an extra slot for illusions (as above). The only exciting part, for me, was that at level 3 when my enemy is subject to a fear effect, they take 1d6 damage per level of fear that they take. This means that if I escalate a fear effect from shaken to panicked they take 6d6 damage on top of dropping their weapons and fleeing.
The problem is that 6d6 damage at level 15 is weak. Even if it applies to nearly every spell I'm casting, that's still the best effect, going down to 3d6 if I only frighten them, or 1d6 if they're shaken. Also, some of my best spells elevate to panicked or frightened skipping steps, and half the damage.
Next is the dread witch, which seems to be a perfect fear class, and would be if not for my race. First, they gain +1 DC to fear spells and a boost to fear saves, but I lose a caster level cancelling the DC, and I'm immune to fear. The next ability is awesome, giving +1-3 CL when hit by a fear effect (shaken is 1, etc) regardless of save. However, I'm immune to fear, so I can't benefit. After that I gain the token ability to make any of my spells a fear spell once a day, and then I get delay fear which works on enemies (nice for stacking effects) or myself if I wasn't immune. Finally at level 4, the only reason I would take this class, I get to pierce fear immunity.
At level 4 dread witch I might be able to use my abilities. If that's the case, then yes, it's good, but I need to wait 4 levels getting practically no features before becoming good. However, I'm immune to fear since I'm undead, and it's unclear whether the dread witch can pierce that (the example is a paladin). For example, I don't think it would work on anything mindless.
If not, I'm taking 4 levels and losing a caster level essentially for delay fear on others and pierce fear immunity, which doesn't help me against most things that are immune anyways (if it doesn't work on me there's no hope for mind blank, etc.)
So my question is, would the nightmare spinner/dread witch classes be worth taking in my predicament (If I can use the features of the latter and if not)?
If not, what other prc's could you recommend for boosting fear/necromancy effects? Keep in mind that I would like to qualify before level 9. Or would it just be better to go straight dread necro, mostly for the DR and advanced learning options?
First off, the Nightmare spinner. It's a very illusion focused prc which for starters gives me immunity to fear (redundant, I already have it), lets me apply fear effects to illusions (but I don't have many that qualify), and gives me an extra slot for illusions (as above). The only exciting part, for me, was that at level 3 when my enemy is subject to a fear effect, they take 1d6 damage per level of fear that they take. This means that if I escalate a fear effect from shaken to panicked they take 6d6 damage on top of dropping their weapons and fleeing.
The problem is that 6d6 damage at level 15 is weak. Even if it applies to nearly every spell I'm casting, that's still the best effect, going down to 3d6 if I only frighten them, or 1d6 if they're shaken. Also, some of my best spells elevate to panicked or frightened skipping steps, and half the damage.
Next is the dread witch, which seems to be a perfect fear class, and would be if not for my race. First, they gain +1 DC to fear spells and a boost to fear saves, but I lose a caster level cancelling the DC, and I'm immune to fear. The next ability is awesome, giving +1-3 CL when hit by a fear effect (shaken is 1, etc) regardless of save. However, I'm immune to fear, so I can't benefit. After that I gain the token ability to make any of my spells a fear spell once a day, and then I get delay fear which works on enemies (nice for stacking effects) or myself if I wasn't immune. Finally at level 4, the only reason I would take this class, I get to pierce fear immunity.
At level 4 dread witch I might be able to use my abilities. If that's the case, then yes, it's good, but I need to wait 4 levels getting practically no features before becoming good. However, I'm immune to fear since I'm undead, and it's unclear whether the dread witch can pierce that (the example is a paladin). For example, I don't think it would work on anything mindless.
If not, I'm taking 4 levels and losing a caster level essentially for delay fear on others and pierce fear immunity, which doesn't help me against most things that are immune anyways (if it doesn't work on me there's no hope for mind blank, etc.)
So my question is, would the nightmare spinner/dread witch classes be worth taking in my predicament (If I can use the features of the latter and if not)?
If not, what other prc's could you recommend for boosting fear/necromancy effects? Keep in mind that I would like to qualify before level 9. Or would it just be better to go straight dread necro, mostly for the DR and advanced learning options?