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Gahrer
2010-03-17, 09:59 AM
I have decided to throw in some speed-oriented casters as minions for one of my BBEG:s in my campaign. They will be around level 10-15 (dark elves) and will focus on getting a lot of spells out each round while moving around the battlefield quickly. Quicken spell is the most obvious candidate for this, but they will need some sort of metamagic reducers to be really effective against the party (level 17).

Any suggestions?

Vizzerdrix
2010-03-17, 10:08 AM
Umm... Arcane Thesis?

OMG PONIES
2010-03-17, 10:14 AM
Is Mobile Spellcasting (or whatever it's called) actually any good, coupled with a crazy speed? I think it's from one of the Completes (Arcane or Adventurer). I just think the picture of a bunch of elves darting into range, casting a nasty spell, and running away sounds hilarious.

Additionally, have you considered sorcerers? If I'm not mistaken, you can cast Arcane Spellsurge to drop the casting time of your spells, then pop Arcane Fusion as a swift action to drop two spells at a time. Then, you can use any full-round spell (or metamagic'd standard action spell) as a standard action. I could be wrong, but I think that might work. You could have your speedy elves pop into sight, bombard the party with 3 spells a piece, and pop back out of sight.

But please have at least one of them be a Swiftblade.

Eldariel
2010-03-17, 10:18 AM
Practical/Easy Metamagic [RoTD and DR...325?] on Quicken could help, of course. Simulacrums (used sparingly), Projected Images and such can, too. Polymorph with Assume Supernatural Ability could get you Chronotyryn's Double Action or Choker's Quickness for extra actions (given Shapechange is unavailable).

Levels in Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327) could also buy an extra standard action each round. Use Psionic Device/Cerebremancer could gain you access to various Psionic action screws (Schism, Synchronity, Temporal Acceleration, tho Synch really needs Metapsionics to make much outta your actions) and having access to Battlemagic Perception [Heroes of Battle] would give one free action counterspell attempt.


Eyes of the Oracle [DM] is pretty good for a "free readied action" (in other words, an extra standard action) but needs to be Persisted to truly be useful. Then there's like...Time Stop (scroll of, or 10 levels of Swiftblade for Innervated Speed on 15), Belt of Battle and such. As long as they have access to mobility and high-powered dispelling (Inquisition-domain [CD] + Master Specialist: Abjurer [CM], for example, or Scrolls of Disjunction), they should be relevant.

herrhauptmann
2010-03-17, 11:24 AM
Make them gestalt? Monk/wizard. The boost to speed from monk will help a lot, and it'll give them good saves.
The downside, I think a level 10 gestalt is supposed to be equal in CR to say a level 13 (depending on build). So that might lower the character level a little too much.

Swiftblade,
Boots of striding and springing.
There's a third party spell (9th level) which grants the caster the ability to make 2 standard actions, and 2 move actions in a turn. Part of the disadvantage is a hit to the will save, since you've split your brain into two. Also, one half can't commit a full attack action while the other tries to cast a summoning. Things like that.
Give the drow a few scrolls of that. Arcana Unearthed, a book released in 3.0. Same one with the magister class.

Evard
2010-03-17, 12:28 PM
+1 point for gestalt, maybe with barbarian though... Oh crap I ran out of spells... this makes me mad... RAAWWRR RAAAAGE

jiriku
2010-03-17, 01:19 PM
Beguilers actually have a large complement of immediate and swift action spells on their list, and can routinely get off two spells per round even without quicken. Further, the class encourages a combat style that's fitting for drow.

LichPrinceAlim
2010-03-17, 01:53 PM
Beguilers actually have a large complement of immediate and swift action spells on their list, and can routinely get off two spells per round even without quicken. Further, the class encourages a combat style that's fitting for drow.

actually, a Szarkai (Albino Drow from DotU) would benefit more off Beguiler. Szarkai are raised to infiltrate and descretely kill elves, because they LOOK like elves (remember, 99% of drow in one way or another are inbred...)

Cyrion
2010-03-17, 03:13 PM
+1 for the arcane fusion and its big brother.

If you add Repeat Spell to arcane fusion, does it repeat both spells since they're effectively one spell per the description? Cast the repeated arcane fusion in round 1, followed by another arcane fusion combo in round 2, and the single caster is responsible for four spells that round.

Amiria
2010-03-17, 05:24 PM
Mobile Spellcasting (CAdv) is indeed a great feat for this. It is comparable to Shot on the Run, but with spells. It requires a quite hard Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level), but with that skill maxed and a Vest of Steady Spellcasting it has good chances of success.

Move out of full cover, cast two spells (Quicken Spell), move back into full cover. If the battlefield is made for that (i.e. something maze-like or an area with many pillars) those dark elves will be really pesky and last a bit longer.