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ShadowfoxDrow

2012-08-07, 04:37 PM

Hey everyone. I'm looking at playing in an assassin campaign, and I'm wondering if you folks can help me with my build. The game itself is a Gestalt game, there will be Team, Solo, and PvP aspects, and so I'd rather not be dependant on anyone else, or at least if I am, have that dependancy be supplied indirectly by me through manipulation and charm.

I've decided to be a Lesser Fey'ri (Lesser in the same sense that Lesser Tieflings are Lesser, OK'd by DM), which will eat up the first level on one side of my gestalt. I've decided to be a beguiler, as it's flavour of social enchanting/illusion rogue really piqued my interest. I've looked at the Shadowcraft Mage Handbook (DM Ok'd me dropping the gnome requirement) and the Beguiler handbook, but am wondering if any adjustments can be made since I have a whole other side of Gestalt (minus 1st level) to play with.

My stats I rolled are: 17, 17, 16, 15, 15, 14.

I've set them up like so:
Str - 15
Dex - 19 (17 base, +2 Race)
Con - 14 (16 base, -2 Race)
Int - 19 (17 base, +2 Race)
Wis - 15
Cha - 16

I've decided that Shadowcraft Mage is where I want to go with this character, and anything that adds to that, both flavour- and crunch-wise, would be much appreciated.

Here are the Character creation rules for the game:
Starting Level: 1
HP: Max at all levels
All wizards 3.5 sources allowed (though review will happen). Other sources are possible but more tightly looked at.
Characters can have one Trait and up to 3 Flaws.
Basically any weapon i need (up to 20 unique weapons) I can have free proficiency in.

I'm looking for you guys to help me make an effective character.

I've thought of two paths for the other side of the gestalt my character, but others are certainly welcome. The first is a Psion/Thrallherd type build, and the second is a rogue/assassin type build. Again these are ideas, and not set in stone.

I'm open to all suggestions and discussion, so please feel free. I'd like to be able to manipulate pretty much anyone I need to with relative ease, and I'd like to not be useless in combat. I don't need to be damage dealing, but at least Battlefield control and such. Neither side of the gestalt is well-made at this point, I'd like to change that in the next few days.

Thanks,
Shadow

P.S.- Any questions just ask!

Oscredwin

2012-08-07, 04:51 PM

Wizard/psion/factotum/warblade/artificer are your best bets for the other side. If power is your concern I'd go artificer because you'll be PRCing on the beguiler side. Warblade gets you d12 HD, fort saves and maneuver goodness. Factotum gets you int to more stuff and eventually action economy, but not a jump in skill points. Wizard and psion are great to have on any int gestalt build.

I'd go illusionist//factotum myself for this, doing a killer gnome on the wizard side, dropping evocation, and necro. But those are my two favorite classes (along with beguiler).

Biffoniacus_Furiou

2012-08-07, 05:27 PM

Shadowcraft Mage is Gnome-only, which means you'll need to take three levels in Stoneblessed to qualify with a non-gnome. Since you're starting at level 1, meeting the prerequisites for Stoneblessed is going to be extremely unreliable.

I'd recommend going with some sort of gnome race, preferably Whisper Gnome, and maybe use a Bloodline (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/bloodlines.htm) or gradually gain Half-Fiend (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031010a) (at your leisure (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030824a)) or some variant thereof (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060630a), or maybe even get Half-Fey (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) or Unseelie Fey (+0 LA) from the Dragon Compendium.

For a gestalt Beguiler-based Shadowcraft Mage, you should definitely consider the following:

Shadowcraft Mage staples like Heighten Spell, Earth Spell, and Residual Magic. Ability Focus (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsterFeats.htm#abilityFocus): Silent Image is also highly recommended if you can find room for it.
A Wizard dip to get Chains of Disbelief (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#illusionistVariants), the Gnome Wizard 1 sub level, and a spellbook, which with Versatile Spellcaster will allow you to spend Beguiler spell slots two at a time to cast any Wizard spell you've learned of one level higher.
A (Cloistered) Cleric 1 dip for the Gnome and Illusion domains, along with Knowledge Devotion which per CA should apply to weaponlike spells (i.e. anything that makes an attack roll). Versatile Spellcaster also works with Cleric spells that you know (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/divineSpells.htm#newDivineSpells).
The spontaneous domain casting ACF in PH2 for one of those domains, and DMM: Heighten for Silent Image. Residual Magic will make your next Silent Image spell (regardless of source) heightened to the same level for free.
Master Specialist 4, which requires the Wizard dip, for a +2 DC to every Shadow Illusion you cast and Greater Spell Focus + Skill Focus for free. You can qualify at 2nd level with Versatile Spellcaster and knowledge of any 2nd level spell.
Enhanced Shadow Reality feat (Dragon 325) which requires a Wizard (Illusionist) level for +20% reality to shadow illusions.
Shadow Weave Magic feat (PGtF) and a dip into its accompanying prestige class Shadow Adept for three extra feats to improve your illusions.
The Shadowcrafter prestige class from Underdark, which in seven levels gives you another +20% reality to shadow evocation/conjuration, and with a reasonable DM anything that emulates those.

With all of that in mind, I'd go Beguiler 5/ Mindbender 1/ Beguiler 14// Cloistered Cleric 1/ Wizard 1/ Master Specialist 3/ Cloistered Cleric 1/ Master Specialist 1/ Shadow Adept 1/ Shadowcraft Mage 5/ Shadowcrafter 7. That gets Beguiler 20 spellcasting, Wizard 5, and Cloistered Cleric 15, with six base skill points at every level. An alternative would be to replace the Shadowcrafter levels with Incantatrix, to use Cooperative Metamagic and Metamagic Effect to Persist tons of buffs, though you'll need to put Cloistered Cleric levels with it to keep the same casting numbers since it can only advance an arcane class.

ShadowfoxDrow

2012-08-07, 05:51 PM

Biffoniacus_Furiou

2012-08-07, 05:58 PM

My Dm has allowed me to drop the Gnome requirement from Shadowcraft Mage, because with the Alter Self ability I could become a gnome and go learn it as a gnome (or some other such reason, all I know is I don't NEED to be gnome).

That said, everything you've mentioned is great. I should probably ask this now I guess. Should I stick with Fey'ri (not needed, just liked the concept and it synergized well with beguiler), or am I really better off being a whisper gnome?

It doesn't matter, though that +1 LA will probably take off one of the Cloistered Cleric levels in that build, which means only 7th level spells at 20th (if you get that far). PHB Gnome would actually be better than Whisper Gnome due to the racial +1 DC for Illusions.

ShadowfoxDrow

2012-08-07, 07:32 PM

I appreciate the help! I think I'll stick with Fey'ri, I doubt the game will go to level 20, so that's not a huge issue. I like your build path though, I think I'll go with that :D

Do you have any suggestions/comments on my feat tree?

1st: Spell Focus (Illusion)
*Flaw: Spell Focus (Enchantment)
*Flaw: Shadow Weave Magic
*Flaw: Earth Sense
3rd: Scribe Scroll (Free - Wizard 1)
3rd: Heighten Spell
4th: Skill Focus (Spellcraft) (Free - Master Specialist1)
5th: Silent Spell (Free - Beguiler 5)
6th: Greater Spell Focus (Illusion) (Free - Master Specialist 3)
6th: Earth Spell
8th: Insidious Magic Pernicious Magic, and Tenacious Magic (Free - Shadow Adept 1)
9th:Residual Magic
11th: Still Spell (Free - Beguiler 10)
12th: Enhanced Shadow Reality
15th: Versatile Spellcaster
18th: Ability Focus: Silent Image (If it can be applied to a spell?)