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Zach J.
2010-05-23, 10:58 PM
I've tweaked the character I'm going to play in the new game my dm's boyfriend is running. We're starting at level 1 and I'm playing an Elf Fighter with the following stats:

Str 12, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 15, Wis 8, Cha 11

He's the twin brother of another character, a Sorceress. By level 10 I hope to be a:

Fighter 1, Wizard 5, Eldritch Knight 4

with the following feats...

1: Lightning Reflexes, Two-Weapon Fighting (Fighter Bonus Feat)
2: Scribe Scroll (Wizard Bonus Feat)
3: Still Spell
6: Craft Wand, Extend Spell
7: Improved Initiative (Eldritch Knight Bonus Feat)
9: Double Wand Wielder

The other two members of the party are the elf Sorceress who may eventually become a Mystic Theurge and a human Bard. I'm mostly iffy on some of the feats and whether or not I should become a specialist wizard and if so what school I should specialize in so if anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. The only thing I'm dead set on is Double Wand Wielder and its prerequisites.

holywhippet
2010-05-23, 11:20 PM
The main problem of the Eldritch Knight is that for their first level they don't get any boost to spell casting level. They get better BAB progression, but unless you are using a lot of roll to hit type spells that isn't a huge deal - especially since most of those spells are against touch AC. You also only get decent fortitude saves, not will saves even though this it a casting type class. You get better HP since it's a d6 hit die but you should be using spells and meat shields to avoid getting hit at all.

It really isn't a strong prestige class if you are looking for power, archmage is better in that regard.

If you decide to still go through with Eldritch Knight, consider swapping that fighter level for barbarian - as a caster you won't be wearing heavy armour and you might like the increased HP. Or go for ranger to get more skill points.

evil-frosty
2010-05-23, 11:23 PM
You could specialize in Conjuration and summon some beatsticks as it seems like you are lacking in them. Besides that looks like a fun build.

Zach J.
2010-05-23, 11:31 PM
Thanks for the input so far! I think the DM might be throwing in a beatstick NPC to help us out, but summoning monsters may not be a bad idea.

I'm actually hoping to wear heavy armor by level 10 while using my twin wands. That's why I took the level of fighter and why I'm taking Still Spell and Extend Spell as feats.

I'm trying not to step on the sorceresses' toes so I'm trying to figure out what she wants to be able to do as a spellcaster and do something else. So far I can think of A) Blowing Stuff Up and B) Controlling the Battlefield. What else are spellcasters used for?

PId6
2010-05-23, 11:35 PM
What books are available? And are you dead set on the Eldritch Knight path? Because certain other classes can do the concept better (Artificer, or even just straight wizard). You don't actually need the bab advancement of Eldritch Knight if you just want to use wands; spells are almost always touch so you'll likely hit nearly every time anyway.

Also, Lightning Reflexes and Still Spell aren't very useful feats. If all you have available are Complete Arcane and core, Split Ray and even Point Blank Shot + Precise Shot are more useful to you. And you definitely want to specialize; either Conjuration or Transmutation provides the best returns, and you can dump Enchantment and either Evocation or Illusion without too much issue.

Get wands of Lesser Orb of Acid/Electricity and later Scorching Ray as your primary combat wands. Magic Missile isn't bad either earlier on since it always hits.

Prodan
2010-05-23, 11:59 PM
What else are spellcasters used for?

Buffing. Debuffing. Utility. Divination.

DragoonWraith
2010-05-24, 12:10 AM
You're going to want Precise Shot, though with Complete Mage you can replace that with the ever-so-convenient Rod of Magical Precision (save two feats for 12,000 gp? Yes, please. Although Point-Blank Shot might not be entirely wasted for you.)

Also if you have Complete Mage, Metamagic Spell Trigger seems like a must, though failing that you could go with the Metamagic Wandgrip. Also, the Rod of Many Wands deserves a look. And the Abjurant Champion is a much better choice than the Eldritch Knight, though really you don't need full BAB at all for this.

If you have Eberron Campaign Setting, you really ought to be an Artificer; they just do it better.

If you have an internet connection (or Magic of Faerūn), Incantatrix (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20010803) might be an interesting option along with Metamagic Spell Trigger or the Metamagic Wandgrip features from Complete Mage. Unsure of how those things stack, though.

You might also consider ditching Wizard, and going for either a class with Use Magic Device and can use Heavy Armor, or going Cleric and taking the Magic Domain to use Wands as a Wizard of half your Cleric level (nets you Heavy Armor and divine spellcasting and the ability to use Wands of Cleric spells, plus no Arcane Spell Failure). If you have Tome of Magic, you can go Binder to bind Karsus and get the ability to use Wands as a Wizard of your full level, still no Arcane Spell Failure on anything (no native Heavy Armor Proficiency, though).

Anyway, I recommend you read the Unofficial Artificer Player's Guide (http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19579430/The_Unofficial_Artificer_Players_Guide_3.0?pg=1), even if you're not an Artificer - a lot of it, especially the Blastificer section, will still apply to you.

arguskos
2010-05-24, 12:12 AM
If you have Complete Arcane (which you apparently do), Abjurant Champion is much better than Eldritch Knight.

Abjurant Champion is CMage, not CArcane, for reference. However, that's all good, because as you point out, CMage is a great book for this concept.

Greenish
2010-05-24, 12:14 AM
Consider asking your DM if you can use Pathfinder's Eldritch Knight (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/eldritch-knight), if you really want to be one. It's not a very good PrC for the same reasons discussed above, but it has a few actual class features and doesn't need much any conversion for the system.

DragoonWraith
2010-05-24, 12:16 AM
Abjurant Champion is CMage, not CArcane, for reference. However, that's all good, because as you point out, CMage is a great book for this concept.
D'oh! Fixed.

arguskos
2010-05-24, 12:23 AM
D'oh! Fixed.
Happens dude, don't sweat it.

As for the concept, yeah, while it would be fun, Eldritch Knight isn't going to be useful for you really. However, that said, I did just think of something amusing as hell you could do as a wand-wielding EK: weapon-like spells.

Get lots of wands of weapon-like spells, such as Thunderlance, Ice Dagger, Flame Dagger, Decastave, stuff like that. Petition your DM to permit you to dual-wield weapon-like spells when appropriate (such as Flame Dagger). A fun trick might be to cast Flame Dagger twice and then use Daggerspell Stance for giggles. This is highly dependent on your DM being cool with it, but I think casting a pair of Flame Daggers while you've got Daggerspell Stance active would be awesome looking, if nothing else.

Get Persistent Blade in there, Blade of Pain and Fear could be fun, there's a lot of weapon-like spells out there that might be amusing for this concept. *goes off to write up an NPC for one of my PbPs along this line*

DragoonWraith
2010-05-24, 12:45 AM
I had that thread of weapon-like spells recently... I still have the list somewhere, if you need it. Of course, my Swordmage homebrew was based on the idea and takes it to a whole new level.

arguskos
2010-05-24, 12:59 AM
I had that thread of weapon-like spells recently... I still have the list somewhere, if you need it. Of course, my Swordmage homebrew was based on the idea and takes it to a whole new level.
I'd like that list, actually. I recall contributing to it, but didn't copy it down like a moron. :smallsigh:

Also, while I liked your Swordmage, it's not what I want for this concept in my head, thanks though.

DragoonWraith
2010-05-24, 01:17 AM
I understand what you mean; the Swordmage does not currently entirely fulfill what I was going for in that thread, either. *shrug*

Anyway, I think this is the complete list:

Adamantine Wings (Complete Mage)
Arrow of Bone (Spell Compendium)
Blade of Pain and Fear (Spell Compendium)
Black Blade of Disaster (Spell Compendium)
Blackstaff (Magic of Faerūn)
Cloud of Knives (Player's Handbook II)
Coat of Arms (Complete Mage)
Dancing Chains (Book of Vile Darkness)
Decastave (Unapprochable East)
Flame Dagger (Spell Compendium)
Flaming Whips (Spell Compendium)
Howling Chain (Spell Compendium)
Ice Axe (Spell Compendium)
Ice Darts (Frostburn)
Ice Knife (Spell Compendium)
Lash of Force (Complete Mage, I think)
Launch Bolt (Spell Compendium)
Lightning Blade (Complete Arcane)
Mace of Odo (Player's Guide to Faerūn)
Mordenkainen's Sword (Player's Handbook)
Mystic Lash (Player's Guide to Faerūn)
Persistent Blade (Spell Compendium)
Prismatic Bow (Complete Mage)
Scimitar of Sand (Sandstorm)
Spectral Weapon (Spell Compendium)
Sphere of Ultimate Destruction)
Steeldance (Spell Compendium)
Sword and Hammer (Player's Guide to Faerūn)
Sword and Hammer, Greater (Player's Guide to Faerūn)
Sword of Darkness (Spell Compendium)
Thunderlance (Spell Compendium)
Whirling Blade (Spell Compendium)