Help me pick a buffer [3.5]

[Aemoh87]

A friend of mine (who is an experienced player) has no idea what class he wants to play. For flavor reasons he is a dwarf prospector who lives in the desert, who wants to be able to buff well. He does not want to play a cleric or a wizard. He seems interested in psionics and/or invokers but is not completely sure if that is what he wants to do. Any neat build ideas I can suggest to him to get him exited and motivated to play this character?

[Manateee]

Psionics and invokers are generally lacking w/r/t buffing.
Your best bet is the third-party (but highly reputable, if you're worried about the quality of the material) Worldthought Medic (http://dsp-d20-srd.wikidot.com/worldthought-medic), followed by WotC's Sangehirn (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625c).

[Eldest]

If he wasn't a dwarf, I would suggest bard. But he is, so unless that changes or I think more about it tomorrow I'm out of ideas. I don't know either of the systems you mentioned very well.

[Dimers]

Psi isn't very good at buffing other people. Their best stuff is self-only. I'd recommend druid or something with druid casting, like the spirit shaman from Complete Divine.

[Aemoh87]

He has considered Bardzilla or similar builds. He doesn't really wanna be a save or die caster so he is not to worried about DCs so the -Cha doesn't hurt him all that bad. He is looking at Bardic Music without bard levels as well, but he just isn't sold on it. I forwarded him a Inspire Courage handbook to help him out though.

[DrMike105]

There's always Marshal and/or Dragon Shaman, although Marshal requires some Cha. Dragon Shaman has some party buffs and a breath weapon; maybe while prospecting he came across some forgotten draconic artifact that granted him some powers?

[Machinekng]

An Artificer would match pretty well. Its infusions are pretty much buffs, and it makes items that 'buff' people.

The only issue is that its pretty dependent on Charisma, since it relies on Use Magic Device. The -2 penalty only gives an effective -1 to UMD, so it could still would pretty well.

The class is in the Eberron Campaign Setting book.

Other options:
-Druid: Not all too thematic, but it works.

The problem with Invokers and Psionics is that the majority of the buffs they possess have a range of Personal. If that's not an issue for him, an Egoist Psion is a good self buffer. An Ardent might work, but I forget if they're Cha-based or not.

The big issue that I see is that a lot of buffing classes are Charisma based.

[Aemoh87]

The big issue that I see is that a lot of buffing classes are Charisma based.

This is the same as it is for artificer though, the -Cha isn't all that painful. Flavor wise he could be almost anything but a wizard, paladin, or cleric.

[Machinekng]

This is the same as it is for artificer though, the -Cha isn't all that painful. Flavor wise he could be almost anything but a wizard, paladin, or cleric.

Even though the Artificer is a LOT of bookeeping, it's a solid Tier-1 class,although optimizing it isn't very easy If you have the book, I'd run it by him as an idea.

He could, however, be a Gold Dwarf (DMG) that switches the Cha penalty to Dex and gives some bonuses against Aberations.

[killem2]

Before I settled on going full blown evoker, I tossed the idea around of going full tilt transmuter. focused specialist, with the traits, reserves of strength feats, and just slam on the shennanigans combat tricks, buffs galore.

[Machinekng]

Before I settled on going full blown evoker, I tossed the idea around of going full tilt transmuter. focused specialist, with the traits, reserves of strength feats, and just slam on the shennanigans combat tricks, buffs galore.

Didn't read the OP :smalltongue:.

Wizards are already off the table.

[Hirax]

I agree with artificer, that seems perfect for a prospector.

[Aemoh87]

Is there a psionic artificer? He seems interested in that, and does it have astral construct?

[Hirax]

Is there a psionic artificer? He seems interested in that, and does it have astral construct?

Yep, it's even called that exact thing. Page 42, Magic of Eberron. I'm fuzzy on how they work though, I've never played one.

[Machinekng]

Is there a psionic artificer? He seems interested in that, and does it have astral construct?


Yep, it's even called that exact thing. Page 42, Magic of Eberron. I'm fuzzy on how they work though, I've never played one.

There is an issue with it however. Technically, with a Psionic artificer, you can make Magic and Psionic items,making the Psionic artificer Tier 0. I'd houserule that it can only make Psionic items.

[Strormer]

thoughtsinger (http://dsp-d20-srd.wikidot.com/thoughtsinger)
This always seems to be my go-to answer these days, but if he's interested in a psionic buffbot this could be another answer outside the PsiArtifacer.

[Aemoh87]

thoughtsinger (http://dsp-d20-srd.wikidot.com/thoughtsinger)
This always seems to be my go-to answer these days, but if he's interested in a psionic buffbot this could be another answer outside the PsiArtifacer.

Is it from the book or is this just homebrew.

[Machinekng]

Is it from the book or is this just homebrew.

It's 3rd-party.

[Strormer]

The thoughtsinger is almost exactly the bard, but psychic. Could be an interesting play for a Dwarf character. I know one of my favorites was a Dwarf Sorcerer. A charisma penalty isn't so bad when you're Gimli with fireballs. :smallbiggrin:

[Psyren]

Yep, it's even called that exact thing. Page 42, Magic of Eberron. I'm fuzzy on how they work though, I've never played one.

They're just like Artificers, but even more powerful - because they can craft many magic items in addition to the full suite of psionic ones.

[Gnome Alone]

Dwarven prospector, possibly can be a bard? Tell him he can do Perform (Harmonica)!