I need build advice(see later posts)

[*.*.*.*]

In my upcoming campaign my DM is bringing my old group back together. We are bringing some things in from pathfinder, but apart from that, it is a standard 3.5 campaign. He has promised fast leveling and planar traveling, so I'm very excited. We will gestalt mid campaign around level 8 and we start at ECL 5. I need help with coming up with a character.

Rules:All 3.5 content is cool
Homebrew is cool upon review by DM
Rest of the party(so far):
Raceless(maybe drow noble) PF paladin
Drow Noble Draconic blooded sorcerer
Raceless Barbarian
and a Magic-Blooded Houri(3rd party race found in bastard and bloodlines, it has no LA due to my DM loving the player) bard

What I'm looking for: A powerful character with "dark" powers. This character needs to be well rounded and can possibly fight against the whole party if need be.

I was thinking of going Binder 4/ Ur-Priest 1/Tenebrous Apostate(story reasons) 5/Divine Anima Mage 10. When I gestalt is where I'm having problems, any suggestions?


P.s. The thread title, like the cake, is a lie

[nedz]

Monk :smallbiggrin:

Marshall or Dragonshamen or Bard or Rogue or Scout is a good choice for a passive side.

Warlock is a better fit though - forget about Eldritch Blast, its the Dark Powers you want:smallcool:

[Lateral]

...You tried to drag me into a thread with false titling.

As punishment, you get no cookie.
------
Factotum 8 is a great use of levels in almost any gestalt, since it gets you a crapload of skills, INT to a lot of stuff to help make your guy even more SAD, and Cunning Surge.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

What early entry shenanigans do you plan on using to get around the Ur-Priest skill prerequisites?

A standard DMM Cleric is pretty good, at level 5 you can get a Reliquary Holy Symbol, a Lesser Rod of Extend, and some decent armor/shield. If you can get away with it start with a standard Strand of Prayer Beads which has had the beads of Smiting and Healing removed, by DMG pricing it's free and you can use the Bead of Karma to get +4 caster level when you cast your buffs. Get the Strength or War domain along with Winter. Use the Lesser Rod of Extend to cast Magic Vestment x2 and Snowsight. With Cha 14+ you'll be able to Persist one spell, get Ice Axe. If the party gives you trouble cast Obscuring Snow and there's not much they can hope to do against you. Ice Slick is pretty good, too. Most of that is in Frostburn, Ice Axe is in Spell Compendium. If you can use flaws get Spell Thematics from Magic of Faerun, to make all of your spells appear as black ice or snow, if you really want the 'dark power' theme, otherwise Extra Turning a few times would be worth it.

Gestalt I'd probably mix that with Crusader, and get Extra Granted Maneuver at your next available feat.

[mootoall]

Wizard into Tainted Scholar on one side, Jade Phoenix Mage build on the other. Worship Wee Jas, but be very dark about it. Go Necropolitan, then have fun!

[Analytica]

I was thinking of going Binder 4/ Ur-Priest 1/Tenebrous Apostate(story reasons) 5/Divine Anima Mage 10. When I gestalt is where I'm having problems, any suggestions?


Ur-Priest requires some skills at 8, so without wasting feats on Favored from Cityscape or some third party solution, you cannot actually enter at that level. Also, it gets relatively few spells. In my opinion, you would be better off taking Cloistered Cleric or something like that on one side of the build. That gives lore, excellent skills, and two good saves.

In standard gestalt, also, Anima Mage is generally not allowed as it is a dual progression class. Then again, if allowed, I guess go for it.

Maybe gestalt with warlock for at-will attack powers? Swordsage for ToB goodness and wisdom synergy? Beguiler for skill points, arcane casting and spontaneous magic (dipping sand shaper to get more spells)? Or just wizard/incantatrix for dirty tricks and raw power? MAD might be an issue, though.

[Flickerdart]

Truenamer, pretend you're talking in Dark speech. That's what you get for the title.

[mootoall]

Oh, duh, Archivist! Thanks for the mention of Dark Speech, Flickerdart, that reminded me.

[*.*.*.*]

I keep forgetting I can't meet Ur-Priest until 5, so take one level off of Tenebrous Apostate.


I was pretty dead set on Binder/Ur-Priest, as I was contemplating a character who is bound to try and resurrect Tenebrous in any way possible. The reason I needed enough raw power to challenge the party is due to the fact I may need to betray them at one point.

Also a few more things: No evil alignment(I checked with Ur-Priest beforehand to use the adaptation) and no undead races. The bard has also changed her mind, she said she may be playing a gemini dancer(found here: http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Gemini_Dancer_%283.5e_Class%29 )

[Strife Warzeal]

The bard has also changed her mind, she said she may be playing a gemini dancer(found here: http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Gemini_Dancer_%283.5e_Class%29 )

Someone else can say if it is a real base class or not. But that site is notorious for (rather bad) homebrew. I don't know how your group cares about that, if it changes anything or not.

[mootoall]

Someone else can say if it is a real base class or not. But that site is notorious for (rather bad) homebrew. I don't know how your group cares about that, if it changes anything or not.

It's definitely homebrew. Oh, and I forgot that Archivist won't work, since it borks Ur-Priest advancement. Unless you take your first level of Ur-Priest before level 8, which you can, and then start the gestalt with Archivist at level 8 and use a PrC to advance Ur-Priest casting at the same time ...

[*.*.*.*]

Well..This thread just became pointless, I was just talking to my DM and he said I could play a gold dragon. I advance by dragon HD until I hit the CR of the next age category and advance to it by eating half of my gold for my WBL. I'll definitely be a loredrake...


Any suggestions on feats or the class for gestalt? Also, any cool tips or ideas for playing a Gold Dragon?

[Analytica]

If you are a gold dragon on one side and can avoid LA in that manner... hmmm.

Could you get to use fixed-list casting (say Beguiler) instead of sorcerer? If so, you could stack on things like Rainbow Servant, Sand Shaper and Exalted Arcanist on the other side to get basically all cleric spells, plus numerous others, spontaneously. Since +casting PRCs stack with the dragon spellcasting, that means you can be full casting rather than half casting, like most dragons.

Also consider dragon PRCs from Draconomicon. There is one (epic though) which actually gives you a divine rank as its capstone.

Absolutely take versatile spellcaster. You could also add metamagic reducers, including incantatrix.

[Veyr]

Sand Shaper works with any spontaneous caster, since you gain the spells as spells known, rather than simply adding them to your spell list. Rainbow Servant does require a full-list caster, though.

[erikun]

I would recommend an Illusionist (Shadow Shaper variant (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#shadowShaper)) / Shadowcrafter / Shadowcraft Mage // Shadowcaster / Shadowdancer 1.
Somehow. :smalltongue:

A bit more seriously, no ideas with the dragon. Were you still planning on Ur-Priest/Anima Mage for the other side? Because taking a second level of Ur-Priest grants you turning, which is useful in DMM trickery.

[danzibr]

What the hell is with the title?

I mean, I know you addressed it as being a lie, but still... what the hell?

[dspeyer]

Normally I'm happy to provide build advice, but not to false titlers.

[*.*.*.*]

What the hell is with the title?

I mean, I know you addressed it as being a lie, but still... what the hell?

I wanted a more interesting title than "I need build advice"

[Doc Roc]

I wanted a more interesting title than "I need build advice"

Go change it, and I'll give you some build advice.

[*.*.*.*]

Go change it, and I'll give you some build advice.

Happy?

I've been looking over hidecarved dragon and noticed that by the time I finished it, I would be in epic levels. My DM has left some hints here and there that we may hit low epic, but I don't like to rely on things such as that. Alos, I have been updated to the group's final choice

Drow Noble(go to pathfinder wiki) Fighter(PF)
Drow Noble Paladin(PF)
Drow Noble Sorcerer(PF and using draconic blooded)
Magic Blooded Houri(+10 to Cha) Gemini Dancer(linked earlier)
Me

I have NO idea what any of them plan to gestalt with when we hit level 8

[Doc Roc]

How about a War Weaver? It's basically Never Ever Bad, and I think that with PF rules, it's probably somewhat stronger.

[*.*.*.*]

How about a War Weaver? It's basically Never Ever Bad, and I think that with PF rules, it's probably somewhat stronger.

With legacy champ abuse, what is the max level spell you can put in a tapestry?

[Doc Roc]

With legacy champ abuse, what is the max level spell you can put in a tapestry?

I can get you 9s in your tapestry. What's your target power level?

[*.*.*.*]

I can get you 9s in your tapestry. What's your target power level?

Hmm, Tier 2(ish) would be preferable. I'd like the power to make sure everyone doesn't die if the DM screws up. However, I don't want to reign over everyone to the point they are useless.

[Doc Roc]

Hmm, Tier 2(ish) would be preferable. I'd like the power to make sure everyone doesn't die if the DM screws up. However, I don't want to reign over everyone to the point they are useless.

Tier 2 by Jaron's or by Test of Spite?

My old WW (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=5881.0) guide.

[*.*.*.*]

Tier 2 by Jaron's or by Test of Spite?

My old WW (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=5881.0) guide.

I was thinking by Jaron standards, thanks for the link. In retrospect though, I was pondering over throwing archivist on the other side due to our lack of divine spellcasting

[Doc Roc]

I was thinking by Jaron standards, thanks for the link. In retrospect though, I was pondering over throwing archivist on the other side due to our lack of divine spellcasting

Check out the Joker build or Algernon. That's probably T0 though.

[*.*.*.*]

Check out the Joker build or Algernon. That's probably T0 though.

Indeed, my DM absolutely despises sanctum spell tricks and most other early entry tricks.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

I'd recommend you use Steel Dragon (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/mm/20040328a) instead of Gold. Dragons of Faerun puts its level adjustment at Wyrmling +2, Very Young +3, Young +4, Juvenile +4. Your spellcasting will be considerably better, and Loredrake will further increase it.