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Reynard
2010-11-04, 11:11 PM
I'm going to be playing a Warmage* in a Gametable game, starting next weekend, and I would quite like some build advice.

We have access to all books, but only Core races, and no Class that is Tier 1 or 2.

The game starts at Level5, and with the crazy-good statbuy of 36, this is what I have so far, planned out for the next few levels:

Race: Human.

Starting Stats:
{table]Str|10
Dex|16
Con|14
Int|12
Wis|9
Cha|17[/table]

{table]ECL | Class Levels | Feats | Ability Increase
1| Warmage | Versatile Spellcaster, Point Blank Shot
2| Warmage |
3| Warmage | Energy Sub (Electricity) [Metamagic]
4| Warmage | | +1 Charisma
5| Warmage |
6| Elemental Savant | Storm Bolt [Reserve]
7| Elemental Savant |
8| Elemental Savant | | +1 Wisdom
9| Elemental Savant | Rapid Metamagic/Obtain Familiar
10| Warmage |
11| Warmage | Rapid Metamagic/Obtain Familiar | +1 Charisma[/table]

And that's pretty much it so far. Does the Playground have any suggestions?

Coidzor
2010-11-04, 11:19 PM
Well, you're going to be very limited against demons with only being able to deal electricity damage with your spells. So I'd... recommend against that.

Reynard
2010-11-04, 11:20 PM
Well, there's a choice of Acid, Fire, Elec or Cold. Which is best (Or least resisted)?

Thurbane
2010-11-04, 11:35 PM
I'd seriously consider swapping DEX and INT...to fuel your Warmage Edge, plus for extra skills. I get that you want high DEX for ranged touch attacks etc. but I'd still consider it.

Some other feats that might be of use: the Bloodline feats from Dragon Magazine Compendium can be great for adding utility spells to a Warmage. Also, from DMG2, Apprentice (spellcaster) lets you add UMD to your skill list, which will expand your utility quite significantly - even if you don't take this feat, I'd still consider pumping cross class ranks into UMD.

Also, the Sand Shaper PrC is good for expanding your spell list, even a dip.

Shade Kerrin
2010-11-04, 11:36 PM
Acid

Fire and Cold - Commonly resistance
Electricity - Uncommon resistance
Acid/Sonic - Rare resistance

Fire has Searing Spell to overcome res/immunity, though, and Cold might or might not have something similar up its sleeves.

gbprime
2010-11-05, 12:21 AM
Okay, first off... why energy substitution? Just for Elemental Savant? You have access to all your boom spells all of the time. Just cast a different one.

Second... Storm Bolt? a warmage shouldn't need reserve feats, unless your DM is likely to throw 6 encounters at you per day.

Instead of Elemental Savant, why not just take Searing Spell. You have the Versatile Spellcaster to power it, and it ignores Fire Resistance completely and punches through Fire Immunity. Win.

If you want variety and more boom all in one package, you could use Eclectic Learning Alt Class Feature (PHB2) to pick up Message as a 1st level spell, which would qualify you (with the right skills) for Dracolexi (Races of the Dragon). While it costs a caster level up front, you get cool stuff like removing fatigue/exhaustion, the ability to dole out Temp HP to your whole party, bonus power word spells and spells like suggestion/geas, free Extend Spell, and (the capstone at level 10) free Empower/Widen for every fire spell you cast... which as you recall are all Searing Spells. Extra win.

{table]ECL | Class Levels | Feats | Ability Increase
1| Warmage | Versatile Spellcaster, Point Blank Shot
2| Warmage |
3| Warmage | Eschew Materials
4| Warmage | | +1 Charisma
5| Warmage |
6| Dracolexi | Searing Spell, Draconic Words (rest)
7| Dracolexi |
8| Dracolexi | free Power Word spell | +1 Charisma
9| Dracolexi | Rapid Metamagic, Draconic Words (prolong)
10| Dracolexi | 2 free Lang Dependant Spells
11| Dracolexi | free Power Word spell
12| Dracolexi | Extraordinary Spell Aim, Draconic Words (invigorate) | +1 Charisma
13| Dracolexi | ignore Silence
14| Dracolexi | free Power Word spell
15| Dracolexi | FEAT, Draconic Words (burn)
[/table]

Coidzor
2010-11-05, 12:28 AM
Well, there's a choice of Acid, Fire, Elec or Cold. Which is best (Or least resisted)?

I'd say if you're limited to blasting, don't gimp your versatility any further than it already is.


Fire has Searing Spell to overcome res/immunity, though, and Cold might or might not have something similar up its sleeves.

Cold does, can't remember what it's called offhand, but I believe Cindy has it. Either that or the Mailman does.

Biffoniacus_Furiou
2010-11-05, 12:43 AM
Piercing Cold, from Frostburn, it's a +1 metamagic. There's a prestige class in there creatively named Frost Mage which gets it for free at the 4th and final level, which has the added benefit of making your spells automatically bypass all spell- and item-based resistance and immunity to cold. If you're going to be playing in a cold climate, there are other feats in there like Cold Spell Specialization, (Greater) Cold Focus, Snowcasting, and Frozen Magic, which actually gives cold damage higher numbers than any other energy type but only in cold climates.

Kaww
2010-11-05, 12:43 AM
If you are going to use elemental savant with electricity I'd recommend Born of three thunders(CA). This is a twisted feat especially if you menage to convince your DM to give you thunderhead as an extra spell.
Note: thunderhead (SC) is a druid spell that lasts round/lvl and deals 1d6 dmg. You may add edge dmg and see your enemies stunned/prone for most of the encounter. + you deal some dmg while doing nothing, which is more important than the fact that the enemy is out cold...:smalltongue:
Also, this is a first lvl spell...

Toptomcat
2010-11-05, 12:49 AM
Take the War Mage PrC from Dragonlance: Age of Mortals. Entry is available by 5th, it's five levels long, and you get +1 damage per die of all damaging spells every odd level, finishing up with +3 damage per die. Then take a level of Complete Champion's Sanctified One of Kord for the Holy Fire ability- all of your fire spells ignore energy resistance or immunity completely forever for free.
Then dance a happy dance.

Eldariel
2010-11-05, 01:45 AM
Fire with Searing Spell [Sandstorm] is the solution; allows you to ignore Fire Resist and penetrate Fire Immunity. Fire so hot it scorches Fire Elementals :smallbiggrin:

faceroll
2010-11-05, 02:37 AM
Take the War Mage PrC from Dragonlance: Age of Mortals. Entry is available by 5th, it's five levels long, and you get +1 damage per die of all damaging spells every odd level, finishing up with +3 damage per die. Then take a level of Complete Champion's Sanctified One of Kord for the Holy Fire ability- all of your fire spells ignore energy resistance or immunity completely forever for free.
Then dance a happy dance.

Yeah, go Warmage 5/War Mage 5. :smallbiggrin:

If you pick up heighten spell and sanctum spell, you can use 2 level 1 spell slots to cast level 3 spells that function as second level spells. You basically get +2 to the level of spells you can cast.

If you pick up a level of Wildmage and the practiced spellcaster feat, you get +1d6 to your caster level on all spells you cast.

gbprime
2010-11-05, 01:08 PM
Take the War Mage PrC from Dragonlance: Age of Mortals. Entry is available by 5th, it's five levels long, and you get +1 damage per die of all damaging spells every odd level, finishing up with +3 damage per die. Then take a level of Complete Champion's Sanctified One of Kord for the Holy Fire ability- all of your fire spells ignore energy resistance or immunity completely forever for free.
Then dance a happy dance.

Dang. I gotta borrow a copy of that dragonlance book. :smallamused:

absolmorph
2010-11-05, 01:45 PM
Take the War Mage PrC from Dragonlance: Age of Mortals. Entry is available by 5th, it's five levels long, and you get +1 damage per die of all damaging spells every odd level, finishing up with +3 damage per die. Then take a level of Complete Champion's Sanctified One of Kord for the Holy Fire ability- all of your fire spells ignore energy resistance or immunity completely forever for free.
Then dance a happy dance.
... :smalleek:
Don't forget to mention granting +Cha to 3 ally's AC (within 30 feet) and two free metamagic feats (off a short list, but still).
:smallamused:

jiriku
2010-11-05, 01:53 PM
Yeah, go Warmage 5/War Mage 5. :smallbiggrin:

You dawg, I heard you like battle casters....

Last Laugh
2010-11-05, 04:13 PM
If you want variety and more boom all in one package, you could use Eclectic Learning Alt Class Feature (PHB2) to pick up Message as a 1st level spell, which would qualify you (with the right skills) for Dracolexi (Races of the Dragon). While it costs a caster level up front, you get cool stuff like removing fatigue/exhaustion, the ability to dole out Temp HP to your whole party, bonus power word spells and spells like suggestion/geas, free Extend Spell, and (the capstone at level 10) free Empower/Widen for every fire spell you cast... which as you recall are all Searing Spells. Extra win.
[/table]
Bonus power word spells come at spell level-1. Power word pain is a sweet cantrip to be able to extend for free.

gbprime
2010-11-05, 04:32 PM
Bonus power word spells come at spell level-1. Power word pain is a sweet cantrip to be able to extend for free.

Especially with Warmage Edge and Extra Edge. Add the War Mage bonus damages and OUCH. :smallamused:

Coidzor
2010-11-05, 05:32 PM
Especially with Warmage Edge and Extra Edge. Add the War Mage bonus damages and OUCH. :smallamused:

How much longer would that keep it relevant though?

Toptomcat
2010-11-05, 06:45 PM
Though it's rather a narrower path, another option is Warmage 5/War Mage 5/Argent Savant 1, which would get you an additional point of damage per die on force-damage spells, which nothing short of epic resists anyway. Force Needle would give you a Warlock-in-a-feat, too.

Hida Reju
2010-11-05, 07:13 PM
Damage is always relevant as long as you bring the monster down fast. A well built Warmage should be able to one shot nearly anything with overwhelming damage.

Alternatively you can use Warmage to learn whole lists of spells as a spontaneous caster. Sandshaper from Sandstorm gets a bunch of free spells added to list for free.

Incantrix lets you super metamagic it up nasty style. Nothing says love like empowered and maximized for 1 lvl each, stack in Arcane Thesis for more love. At high lvls you can turn disintegrate into a save or die since it will inflict over 240 damage a shot on a failed save.