Help me alter my character for the new terrain

[Jabberwocky12]

Hey guys,

So long story short, I'm in a campaign where magic basically has become nonexistent. I can cast a few spells but only 4-5 a day if I have a special gem that needs to recharge. It's making it difficult as a sorcerer to cast spells compared to the number of things that we fight each day.

My question is this: How would I best put my next few levels to be more combatative in this new terrain? I just turned 6 but need to decide what to do with my 6th level and onward. The DM is honestly pushing us to be more combat-ready without magic and then I think she is going to lighten things up a bit with the spell restrictions, but those are my guesses.

Part right now is a ninja, fighter, swashbucker, and a rogue/warlock. Therefore there aren't a lot of spellcasters and the major ones right now are really getting boned.

Is there anyway to use Dex or some other stat rather than strength for *damage*? I know Weapon Finesse does it for attack roles but the low str. doesn't help me much there.

Any suggestions on how to be more melee but still eventually go back to spellcasting?

Stats right now:
18 con
18 dex
18 cha
13 int
11 wis
9 str

I had some nice rolls this campaign :smallbiggrin:

BTW the "Completes" are open only. No PHBII, Sandstorm, or anything like that.

[Flickerdart]

Take the feat Arcane Strike, to turn your excess spell slots into damage. Use Swiftblade (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327), or if your DM doesn't like WotC's website as a source, Dragon Disciple (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/dragonDisciple.htm) to augment your combat abilities.

It also doesn't seem especially fair to you that magic ought to be squashed like that, since you're the only caster in the party. Have you tried bringing this up with your DM?

[Jabberwocky12]

We had another spellcaster as well, he died. Though I guess that just helps prove your point more, huh? It's just a part of the campaign right now, I'm not going to complain. I just want to get this over with and adapt so I'm not useless right now...

The only books open are the "Complete" books so Complete Mage, Complete Warrior, Complete Scoundrel, etc.

Nothing else is open.

[grarrrg]

I just turned 6 but need to decide what to do with my 6th level and onward. The DM is honestly pushing us to be more combat-ready without magic and then I think she is going to lighten things up a bit with the spell restrictions, but those are my guesses.

Is there anyway to use Dex or some other stat rather than strength for *damage*? I know Weapon Finesse does it for attack roles but the low str. doesn't help me much there.

Any suggestions on how to be more melee but still eventually go back to spellcasting?


You are at (almost) at the exact right place for Dragon Disciple (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/dragonDisciple.htm).

d12HD, 3/4 Bab, Natural Armor, Natural Attacks, and semi-advances spell casting

Granted you have much higher Dex than Str, but this way your Casting still progresses (if your DM does relax the "low-magic" thing this is VERY important), while still giving you non-magic combat options.

I recommend you semi-ignore the Str increases and grab a good Bow/Crossbow. Use the Claws/Bite only if something reaches Melee Range. The Claws/Bite are also handy as you won't have juggle weapons when fighting switches from Ranged to Melee (or vice versa).

EDIT: Semi-Ninja'd!

[Flickerdart]

Dragon Disciple isn't 7/10 casting. It gives you new spells per day, but only for spells up to the level you already have, and doesn't grant spells known at all.

[grarrrg]

Dragon Disciple isn't 7/10 casting. It gives you new spells per day, but only for spells up to the level you already have, and doesn't grant spells known at all.

Whoops! Too much PF lately (where they DID give DD ACTUAL casting progression).

Still, his options are basically "Abandon Casting" or "Abandon Casting until you qualify for a (good) Prestige".

Dragon Disciple is the only real "compromise" option.

[Jabberwocky12]

What about taking 2 levels of fighter or something and doing abjurant champion?

[Flickerdart]

Abjurant Champion doesn't grant any offensive capability, and relies on spells to function. Swiftblade, as a proper PrC, gives up some casting in order to reap its benefits, so when spells are not an option, Swiftblade still kicks ass with just the haste (which the other 4 meleers will appreciate).

[Toliudar]

As an alternative that won't hamstring you once the power comes back on, magic-wise, consider talking with your DM about the reserve feats from Complete Mage. One of the direct damage effects, while not optimum, would allow you to contribute over and over again in fights, and you'll still be able to take Sorcerer/Prestige Class levels. The only thing to confirm is that the reserve feats' supernatural abilities don't drain the gem.

[Jabberwocky12]

Is there a feat out there somewhere that lets me use dex to damage instead of str? Or a class feature for it?

That might make it a lot better for me in the long run since I have the impression that the magic thing is going to be like this for the rest of the campaign...

[Shadowknight12]

Everything I mention here is in a Complete book, in case I forget to cite my sources.

There's a feat in Complete Scoundrel (or was it Complete Adventurer?) that lets you add half your Dex to damage only if you use crossbows. If you go that route, I would recommend taking two levels of rogue for sneak attack and evasion (werq that Dex) and then go for Order of the Bow Initiate (from Complete Warrior). You're basically wasting your sorcerer levels, but what can you do. You could ask your GM to let you retrain the sorc levels (refluff as you prefer: a deal with a devil/supernatural creature to exchange your magical powers for physical prowess, a magical node or curse that destroys your magic but backfires and strengthens your body, whatever you prefer) and take the fighter levels for the feats and BAB you need to qualify for that PrC. In the end, you will be frankly subpar when compared to what you could do as a sorcerer, but it lets you do damage, if that's what you want to do.

If you want to keep your spellcasting, I recommend taking two levels of Rogue and go for Spellwarp Sniper (from Complete Scoundrel) and/or Cloaked Dancer (same book). Abjurant Champion can also help you. If you like skill tricks, feel free to fill up your levels with Magical Trickster.

Another alternative is to ask your DM if you can improve your spellcasting situation by picking up a PrC with SLAs such as Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil or Mindbender, or a minion class such as Effigy Master or Alienist. If your DM decrees you can cast SLAs freely (if she says "no" but her monsters/enemies can, call her out on this, because it's actually very unfair), pick up IotSV and maybe a level of Mindbender for free telepathy. If SLAs are going to suffer from the same fate as spells, ask her to look over Effigy Master and Alienist and tell you if you'll be able to use them as written or if she's going to screw you over somehow. Might be worth a shot contemplating the feasibility of Master Transmogrifist. It lets you Extend shapechanging spells for free to turn into a favoured form, so pick something good at combat (or whatever you enjoy doing, some people like battlefield control and there are monsters for that) and calculate the benefits of Extend Spell on one or two castings of Polymorph and see if that gets you through most of your encounters.

[Jabberwocky12]

Talked to DM today and SLA's are acceptable. JUST spellcasting is affected. So Warlocks seem to be doing better than I am...

I was thinking of the IotSV personally...I like it. I'm just thinking on how to get there without dying first.

SLA's are definitely acceptable though. Now that I got that clarified I'm going to be digging on a few more things that I can do.

[Shadowknight12]

Talked to DM today and SLA's are acceptable. JUST spellcasting is affected. So Warlocks seem to be doing better than I am...

I was thinking of the IotSV personally...I like it. I'm just thinking on how to get there without dying first.

SLA's are definitely acceptable though. Now that I got that clarified I'm going to be digging on a few more things that I can do.

The ideal path to IotSV is being a wizard, going to Master Specialist (which gives you Mettle vs. spells and other goodies) and then IotSV. If you can't retrain to that, I recommend putting that Charisma to good use. Keep taking Sorc levels and work on the prereqs and don't be afraid to hide behind everyone else during combat and supporting people with the Aid Another action or taking potshots at things with a crossbow. But most importantly, staying out of the way.

If you want to feel useful, put skill points into social skills (remember Bluff is a class skill) and if you can spare some (though given your moderate Int, I doubt it), put them into Hide and Move Silently. Your number one priority from now on is to stay alive. Agree to be a party member's personal slave if that's what it takes for them to ensure their protection (you'll repay them later with lots of cool veils).

And most importantly, save. Your. Spells. Only use them when there's a risk of character death (especially yours) and when the time comes, make sure you use the cheesiest, most broken spells possible (Glitterdust, Grease, Web, Polymorph, Wish, Gate, Shapechange, and so on and so forth, check a handbook here if you want more spell suggestions) and if your current spell selection is lackluster (remember, direct damage spells are a luxury you cannot afford in your current condition, so get rid of them), remember you can swap spells every two levels.

[Feralventas]

Swordsage, from the Tome of Battle. Just a dip will give you the per-requisites for Shadow Blade so that you can use Dexterity for both your To-hit and your damage with your weapons, but only while in a Shadow Hand Martial Stance.

So then, by dipping into swordsage, your Initiator level (Caster level for maneuvers) will be your swordsage level +1/2 of your other levels, so the multi-class doesn't hurt as much to suddenly shift to (where warlock would mean you get a single invocation and that your eldritch blast is all of 1d6 for the next two levels.)

Anyhow, Swordsage has access to 5 schools.
-Desert Wind: Fire stuff all the time all day erry day. These are supernatural.
-Diamond Mind: Precision strikes, heavy concentration emphasis.
-Setting Sun: Trips, grapples and throws. Good crowd control, but probably not what you're looking for coming out of a Sorcerer, though where you're asking after Dexterity focus, it might work for you.
-Tiger Claw: TWF, natural attacks, and offense at the expense of defense.
-Shadow Hand: You'll need at least one stance from this to qualify for the Shadow Blade feat (which also counts as Weapon Finesse for qualifying for other feats). Shadow Hand maneuvers are stealth and mobility focused while developing assassin and rogue-like skills.
They might also get Stone Dragon now that I think of it, but I don't know that you want to go for a tank-ish, resiliance-based style with a sorcerer's D4 to start with.

Once you've gotten a few levels in Swordsage, consider Jade Pheonix Mage for a PrC. It mixes magic with maneuvers pretty well, as well as having some good SLA's and Su abilites built into the class even if you can't get much of the spell progression to work for you.

[Feralventas]

OH and while it's pretty much shooting your utilities and capabilities in the face to do so, there's a variant rule in the Tome of Magic that states that for every level you take in the Shadow Caster class, you can sacrifice one level of an arcane spellcasting class to gain an additional Shadowcaster level at the same time. The downside is that you're leveling as a shadowcaster, of which is fairly meek compared to most arcane casting, divine casting, and anything tier 3 or above. It can work, and I've seen it done, but unless you're willing to play a much more 'casting-reserved character, I wouldn't recommend this one.

That said, its cantrips are Supernatural from the get-go. from 1st to 6th level, it has spells, but once you hit 7th, all of its 1st through 3rd level spells become SLA's available 2/day. At 13th level, they become Supernatural abilities 3/day while your 4th through 6th level spells become SLA's 2/day.

If you want to look into this, try to take a look at the additional mysteries added in the online supplements.


Another Tome of Magic class, the Binder, is much more solid, though you'd be looking at a start-from-square-one situation like you would with the Warlock. You would, however, be getting a lot more options to chose from.
1st level can set you up with either natural and fiery attacks, archery capability and tricks, monk abilities of a sort, some minor skill bonuses and utilities, or armor proficiencies and bonuses.

[Shadowknight12]

He said he's only allowed core + Completes.