Best Class to go Solo

[Shadowdagger213]

Hello again Playgrounders....

Now that I am over my disappointment from my first post (LOL :smallsmile:)
I am just going to make it simple for myself and hopefully get some really cool ideas, since this seems to be the place for out-of-the-box thinkers.

I don't have access to Tome of Battle, Magic Item Compendium, but I may be able to convince a DM to let me use either Spell Compendium and/or Complete Champion...

Here goes...

Please help me come up with a character that can stand alone in a Solo Campaign. I won't know the setting until I come up with a concept, I'm not looking for uber optimized, or even all that powerful. What I would like to come up with is someone who has a better than average chance to at least challenge anything or be able to get around or even AWAY from anything thrown at him.

Single class, PrC or no more than 2 on a cross class build (i.e. Daring Outlaw) or something.

Daring Outlaw, Rogue Shadowdancer, I've even toyed with Swashbuckler Dervish (Kinda liking that one, full bab TWF-er with twin Scimitars....*cough - Drizz't - cough* LOL)

Ready, set, go! :roy:

[Grinner]

Solo play? A Cleric sounds like it might suffice, as they're fairly hardy and possessed of spellcasting abilities.

Edit: Especially if they get Divine Metamagic.

[Eldan]

What level are you looking at? In the lower levels, I'd recommend druid. You get your personal meatshield as a class feature and a lot of decent spells early on. Later, you get wildshape, so you just pulverize everything you meet with tha.t

If you start midlevels, wizard.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

The top two choices for a solo character would probably be a Druid 20 or a Dread Necromancer 20. Factotum 20 or some combination of Factotum and Chameleon with Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) is a close third.

[Shadowdagger213]

Cleric is always my go to class, could a Rogue do it? Maybe this will help...

Rolled Stats: 18,17,16,16,15,14
Considered Race: Human

Level 12

Could a Rogue with maximized CHA/UMD and all few wands do it?

A Swashbuckler with an Ancestral Relic Rapier?

I want it to be unique too!

:roy:

[dungeonnerd]

Rogue or Bard with maxed CHA/UMD and Bluff/Diplomacy/Speak Language.

Otherwise known as the silver tounged devil - if you can talk to it, you can convince it to do what you want. Grab a wand of Tongues and you've just fixed almost all problems with things with a language. A wand of Charm and Suggestion help to fix the rest.

For things without a language, max out Hide/Move Silent and just avoid the fight if you can. If nothing else, this lets you land a good first sneak attack - make sure you grab the Rogues Blade from Savage Species if you can afford it so that every combat hit is a sneak attack.

[HunterOfJello]

Artificer

1. It has plenty of skill points as well as Trapfinding, so it can count as a Rogue for your 1 man party.

2. It can heal itself (especially as a warforged), so it can count as a cleric.

3. It has plenty of abilities to make up for the lack of a wizard.

4. It has 3/4ths BAB, not terrible hit points, and can be designed to fight decently well in melee.

[Shadowdagger213]

I unfortunately won't have access to the Factotum or a lot of "outside sources" like the Rogue's Blade mentioned above.

I "trained" my DM (Stepson) and he has been having an itchy campaign-writing finger, as it were. He wants to send me through a solo piece of his creation, length of which is yet-to-be-determined. His only challenge to me was to try something I've never done before.

Human Cleric is therefore almost not allowed, since that is usually my first choice.

I haven't played a single class Rogue in a long time, but I was kinda looking for ideas of a single class that I have not played yet. But I'm limited to Core, the Completes, BoED and possible Dragonomacon.

Variants would work as long as they are listed in the books I do have access to.

How about a Scout? Crit fisher with Telling Blow and staying mobile?

I have never played a Barbarian...:smalleek:

How bad is fatigue, really?

[Eldan]

Well, the thing is this. At level 12, you will start to run into challenges that can not be solved by hitting them in the face. And most classes can't do much other than hit things in the face. You want something with options. Which usually comes down to casters.

even if there's no environmental difficulties or non-combat encounters, you'll usually meet some trick monsters.

[Yuukale]

Conjuration Specialist =)

Abrupt jaunt, color spray, sleep and if you ban necro/evo, charms and other things will get you past the first levels. Then you'll be an incatatrix and nothing will matter anymore.

[Shadowdagger213]

Ok, how about a Scout? I don't want to have to depend on magic for everything, because magic will eventually run out. Wits and shadows have always been my favorite. Would a Swift Hunter build work out?

:roy:

[Flickerdart]

I'd go with Beguiler. A solo character should avoid fights as much as possible, and is better off sneaking around in the shadows and befuddling his enemies stealth style than he is jumping in guns blazing.

[Ignis6669]

I would second going with Factotum.
But since it isn't an option for this situation I would suggest maybe going with a Wizard with the Arcane Disciple feat. You'll have the flexibility of a wizard AND be able to pull in the healing from a domain. Plus you can play a unique character, since most wizards that I've seen aren't terribly religious. What is there not to like?

[Shadowdagger213]

just gonna throw this one out here....

VoP Rogue/Slayer of Domiel


LOL

[dungeonnerd]

Ok, how about a Scout? I don't want to have to depend on magic for everything, because magic will eventually run out. Wits and shadows have always been my favorite. Would a Swift Hunter build work out?

:roy:

While I agree with everyone else about the versatility of magic, you're right in that it will, eventually, run out. Plus, you play a lot of casters and you want to shy away from that so...

Scout would be a good choice, IF you can kill them before they get to you. Otherwise, you're in trouble.

How do you feel about ninja? Armor bonuses, some nifty abilities, etc.
If you're fighting a bunch of spellcasters, then maybe a spellthief?

What is it that YOU want to play?

[Eldan]

Ok, how about a Scout? I don't want to have to depend on magic for everything, because magic will eventually run out. Wits and shadows have always been my favorite. Would a Swift Hunter build work out?

:roy:

The problem is that you'd still have to find ways to deal with conditions (poison, diseases, petrification, death effects and so on and so on), obstacles and trick enemies (invisible, incorporeal, immune to all but a few attack forms...). You could probably cover that with a lot of magic items, but it's not the best idea.

Never take VOP on a non-caster. It leaves you entirely screwed.

If you are worried about spell slots, how about Warlock? Infinite invocations, decent versatility. Grab flight and invisibility, if you want stealth.

[dungeonnerd]

If you are worried about spell slots, how about Warlock? Infinite invocations, decent versatility. Grab flight and invisibility, if you want stealth.

Kicking myself.

This. A thousand times this. Warlock solves all your concerns nicely.

[Shadowdagger213]

I do like the idea of the scout, and had even drafted up a concept once. Versatility becomes the issue. You can be great at ranged or melee but can't be better than "Meh" at both. Even with the bonus feats. I would love to be able to come up with a non-MAD ranged skirmisher who was better than "Meh" in melee.

Bonus feats @ 4, 8 & 12 take Dodge, Mobility and Spring Attack. Other normal feats take for Archery with a Crossbow.

What would be a good two handed choice for this idea. I may be willing to spend a feat to get it. Don't want to look at Paragon levels unless I have to, but I'd do it to get the customized skill set and proficiency with 1 martial weapon.

[sreservoir]

I don't suppose something going into thrallherd is an option? ;)

[Ignis6669]

You maybe should consider soulknife/soulbow. The neat thing about that build is that any feats you take for your knife apply to your bow and viceversa. PLUS you're pretty much never without a weapon. Some people would say that you take too much of a blow to your BAB, but I disagree.

[Gavinfoxx]

Druid 20! Great solo character.

[danzibr]

Yeah, I was going to say Cleric but since that isn't allowed Druid or Dread Necromancer would both be good. Massive army with the DN.

[ShriekingDrake]

Druid seems like your best choice.

[Gavinfoxx]

Massive army with the DN.

Or with the Druid...

"This is my animal companion. That is my Wild Cohort. That is a bear I rebuked. *casts* Here are my 1d3 Giant Crocodiles..."

[Talionis]

Rogue/Scout take the Darkstalker Feat and avoid as much as you can keep your spot and listens and hides high, thus things don't get the jump on you. You need to be very cowardly lion like and choose your spots. Be set up to take out targets on your time table.

[Shadowdagger213]

So no one likes the Scout?
:confused:

[Shadowdagger213]

Okay, checking out the Warlock now...
:tongue:

[Gavinfoxx]

So no one likes the Scout?
:confused:

Not really, no. It's nowhere near powerful enough. Rogue and Scout and Warlock and similar are wayyyy too weak to act like an entire party on their own.

Remember, you will generally want several animals to be your tanks at low level, until you can do the work of an entire party on your own via your own abilities.

And the idea is to do the work of an entire party on your own. To do that, you need to be in an incredibly overpowered class, like Druid or Cleric or Spell to Power Erudite or Wizard or Artificer or Archivist.

[Amphetryon]

Psionics on the table, or no? A Psychic Warrior with an Astral Construct can do a reasonable job soloing most encounters if you're careful and the DM isn't out to get you.

[Talionis]

Psionics on the table, or no? A Psychic Warrior with an Astral Construct can do a reasonable job soloing most encounters if you're careful and the DM isn't out to get you.

I agree this is a really good idea.

[Shadowdagger213]

Unfortunately psionics are not available in this campaign... I could never get my mind around it! :elan:

[Shadowdagger213]

Switching modes here, what about a warlock? I've never played one, and that alone qualifies it for something I should be looking at....

I have always liked the idea of a Dark Hero... :roy:

LOL

[Darius Kane]

The nice thing about solo play is that there's no other PCs that can be stronger or weaker than you, so the DM can more easily scale he game to the solo player's power level. That means that, as long as you are clear with your DM about your character's capabilities and power, he can make any class or build fun to play.
Of course if you don't communicate with the DM or he's the type that doesn't like to compromise and you know he's going to try his best to make the encounters challenging then picking a better class is indeed recommended.
So, what type of game/DM do you have?

[Psyren]

Druid in core. Yeah you'll be socially gimp until you can get a dryad or pixie to be your spokesperson, but you're a druid, nobody expected you to be charming and personable anyway. Sneer at the soft trappings of civilization and make a point of camping outside the city walls (where your "real friends" are) when the king doesn't need your immediate presence.

[Gavinfoxx]

Yea, the first thing you need to do is choose a power level. Low, medium, high?

Also, is your DM running a module?

[Shadowdagger213]

The game will be level 12... still reading on the Warlock. I am currently playing a 5th level Centaur Druid in this DM's other campaign so I can't do a Druid here...

Was originally gonna go Rogue first :haley:, thinking about a warlock/spellcaster now :vaarsuvius:, but an outdoorsy sneaky stealthy TWF/Archer with a mean streak would be cool...that's why I kept leaning towards Scout. Even a Swift Hunter would do well I think... :belkar:

[Psyren]

If you're going to be a solo rogue, be a Factotum. Or at the very least, be an Arcane Trickster/Spellwarp Sniper/Unseen Seer. In short, be sure you can do something besides hide and sneak attack, as very frequently those things won't be enough - particularly when you're alone.

Though a Rogue/Swashbuckler with Daring Outlaw will at least help you hold your own in a fight.

[Gavinfoxx]

The game will be level 12... still reading on the Warlock. I am currently playing a 5th level Centaur Druid in this DM's other campaign so I can't do a Druid here...

Trust us, a 5th level Centaur Druid (so RHD 4, LA 2, 5 Druid = Level 11), and a 12th level Druid built with our help will have damn near NOTHING in common!

Seriously. Compared to that, a level 5 Human Druid / 8 Planar Shepherd... they'll have nothing in common in the way they play, their abilities, etc. etc.


And Remember, Factotum is Rogue v.2.0.

[Shadowdagger213]

I don't have access to the Factotum.... DM doesn't own the book and neither do I for that matter... Hmmm, maybe a stealth Bard... :elan:

[Shadowdagger213]

And I looked at the Warlock... too much to learn... LOL

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

If you want to do a solo Bard, I'd recommend this build (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252815#4), Necropolitan optional.

[Darius Kane]

The nice thing about solo play is that there's no other PCs that can be stronger or weaker than you, so the DM can more easily scale he game to the solo player's power level. That means that, as long as you are clear with your DM about your character's capabilities and power, he can make any class or build fun to play.
Of course if you don't communicate with the DM or he's the type that doesn't like to compromise and you know he's going to try his best to make the encounters challenging then picking a better class is indeed recommended.
So, what type of game/DM do you have?


Yea, the first thing you need to do is choose a power level. Low, medium, high?

Also, is your DM running a module?
OP, I'd really like an answer to those two posts.

[HunterOfJello]

Rogue 5/Chameleon 7 would be good. You'll start out with double aptitude too.

[WinWin]

Eldritch Blast and it's variants are SR negates. At 12th level, you can expect opponents with SR. Add to the fact that Warlock powers are not as permeable as a spell list, and you are setting yourself up for fairly routine encounter scripting.

That might be to your preferences. It certainly won't get stale in a short campaign, but might lack Solo ability without optimization. There are a few things you can do to improve upon a vanilla Warlock, depending on what resources you have available.



Considering you are not interested in a Druid, Beguiler might be a decent enough option. Pretty easy to build, as you have a set spell list, you'll just need to allocate skills. 12 levels leaves plenty of room for a prestige class.

[akahdrin]

If you're going solo, any class will suffice as the majority of your game will be you talking to the GM. You won't have to worry about random people in your party screwing you over, getting you into trouble, etc. If anything happens, it's because of you so you can manipulate any situation into a winning one easily leaving class to be just a fun option and your own common sense as how you can survive. You'd be better off being a decent person in combat and a monster on the skills so you can roleplay better and have a bigger impact on the world. I'm not saying skills like stealth, but skills such as knowledge, diplomacy, appraise, etc.

I've done solo campaigns and if you go in trying to make the best character in the world, well that's easy. There are plenty of broken things to do. If you want to have fun, do some strange multi-class, make up a story and tell an adventure with your friend along the likes of epic poems.

If he's not allowing the tome of battle, he's basically screwing himself. The most broken classes are in the players handbook. If you can please list any classes better than wizard, druid, or cleric let me know ;) Do something unique, do something fun. Have some horrible stats, and not just dump stats. Role play, not roll play.

Hope this helps. This isn't an action rpg video game, you can win those =p

[DMVerdandi]

Why not gestalt?
As it was said, in a solo game, you don't have to worry about stepping on anyone's toes.

Gestalt would give you two options, and if you want to make a thematic character, then you can clear up some of the weaknesses in the class itself.

You said that you were interested in the Warlock?
Why not add a battle sorcerer on the other side?
Warlock is pretty underpowered as far as things go, but adding some SORC makes it a little easier to get through some challenges.

Even better, the generic spellcaster.

Spellcaster//Warlock could be as you said, a dark hero, learning how to exploit his Unholy powers for a just cause.
Pick up smiting spell, and attach it to an eldritch blast, and you have yourself some blasty fun going on.

You can also take some cool divine spells(Divine power) to buff, and a couple of healing spells too.

Have all that tied into charisma and you sir are kicking some butt.

[limejuicepowder]

I think a battlefield control oriented warlock is the way to go. Warlocks only get a couple of powers, but that's all they need 95% of the time (the other 5% is easy to cover with wands and deceive item).

Here's what I would take:
Least - eldritch spear, see the unseen, entropic warding
Lessor - voracious dispelling, fell flight, flee the scene (if you want to do some minionmancy and don't mind flying on a the back of a dead bat, take animate dead instead of fell flight)
Greater - chilling tentacles

This is a good general-purpose warlock that should be able to (slowly) take down a great deal of challenges. Flying up to 250 ft away, blasting with touch attacks, while your opponents are being grappled by icy demonic tentacles will should take down most things. Entropic warding is solid defense against other range attacks, and flee the scene is a great panic button (short range teleport, and you leave behind a major image of yourself....practically guaranteed to cause confusion). Voracious dispelling and see the unseen are just great multipurpose abilities - dispel magic and see invisibility, respectively.

If you went with animate dead you can do significantly more damage/round, as that will give you some minions to hammer with. It will also create some more barriers between you and the enemy. If you don't mind the bookkeeping, it's really the way to go.

Lastly, take full advantage of the 4th level ability deceive item by grabbing a wand of pretty much any spell you can find. Use this to fill in any portion of your attacks/defenses you feel are lacking (invisibility is a great place to start).

Ability scores are entirely up to you: the above invocations don't allow a single save, so charisma isn't strictly necessary. However, since you're going to be using use magic device, don't entirely dump it either.

Feats are also pretty open, though quicken and empower spell like ability can give you some nova-power. Some item crafting feats may be worth a look as well, especially craft wand. You've got imbue item, which means you can make any item in the game, as long as you have the right feat. Craft wand means you can get your own wands and not be reliant on loot/shops (assuming you have the down time to make 'em).

Lastly, get a wand bracer (don't quite remember what source that is...might be dungeonscape).

[Eldan]

Actually, I think we need to ask one very basic question first.

How will the campaign work? Will the DM give you tailored encounters that you should be able to beat, or just throw more or less level appropriate things at you?

If the first, by all means, build a scout. Play what looks the most fun to you.

If the second, there's honestly no way around a caster of some kind, or you'll lack all the necessarily tools.

[Shadowdagger213]

For Darius Kane:

The Campaign is a homebrew story, the hook won't even be told to me until we sit down to play.

This is a level 12 party of one....:belkar:

[Darius Kane]

That's not what we were asking.

[Shadowdagger213]

That's not what we were asking.

Then I'm not sure what the question was...

I was just looking for some ideas as to which class would have the best chance at surviving going solo. The DM is writing the story/encounters himself, I won't know what I'm getting into until I give him a completed character sheet (so maybe it will be tailored to my abilities, or maybe he'll just exploit my weaknesses, I don't know...)

As to power levels, tiers and things like that, not sure what those are based on, since we don't "power game", we just play to have fun. But I do know he has a small vendetta to repay to me (He had a bad experience with a Razor Boar last time out.... it rolled a 20. LOL)

So I'd just like to have a survival rate of "any", depending on what he throws at me. And I know for a fact that he is now familiar with "anti-magic fields" and how Dispel works.

That's why I was thinking either Scout or Rogue or even Barbarian. Something that will have some chance when the Magic button gets switched to the off position.

[Gavinfoxx]

I was just looking for some ideas as to which class would have the best chance at surviving going solo.

....

As to power levels, tiers and things like that, not sure what those are based on, since we don't "power game", we just play to have fun.

....

So I'd just like to have a survival rate of "any", depending on what he throws at me. And I know for a fact that he is now familiar with "anti-magic fields" and how Dispel works.

....

Something that will have some chance when the Magic button gets switched to the off position.

You do know that there are a number of strategies where (say) a Wizard can work just fine when he encounters an antimagic field, or various methods of Dispel Magic, yes? And if you want to maximize survivability, you want to a.) get a class with the highest potential agency and versatility and power and thus survivability (ie, an overpowered class), then b.) Optimize such a class to get the most out of that potential, and then c.) Use good strategy and tactics for the purpose of achieving your goals, in such a way that works and also fits the personality, goals, and background of that character (ie, so you aren't roleplaying badly while you powergame and take 'correct' actions; you need someone who could and would reasonably do those things!)

So yes, if you want to have the best chance of surviving under all circumstances than your first step is to choose a powerful base class -- like a Cleric, Cloistered Cleric, Druid, Wizard, Archivist, or Artificer. After all, the most powerful 'thing' in D&D is spells (and access to the powerful, game-redefining spells, as quickly as possible, and in as versatile of a way as possible; thus why cleric or wizard is significantly better than mystic theurge), and little bottled spells (ie, magic items), so the most powerful characters are those that take advantage of those immeasurably capable resources.

[Gavinfoxx]

Also, powergaming isn't necessarily un-fun, you know! If you decide that you can have fun powergaming, and that doing so also helps you achieve your goals for how the game works, and maybe even that you might have more fun powergaming -- than why not?

[Shadowdagger213]

Archivist and Artificer, unfortunately I will not have access to....

[Gavinfoxx]

Archivist and Artificer, unfortunately I will not have access to....

So your options for 'the most powerful base classes EVER!' are Druid (there aren't any alternative class features I know of which don't lower power; they all lower power beyond the baseline!), Cleric (and at least some of the alternative class features that don't lower overall power and versatility), and Wizard (and the versions with alternative class features which don't lower power).

Can you please tell us exactly the books you will have access to? And will you have access to the 'sent out for free for anyone to use' online sources from WotC? There is a large amount of open content that you can legally find online.

Also, can you reply to that PM I sent you?

[Gavinfoxx]

Also, if you want to play the social game against your GM to take in real life optimal actions to ensure your character's survivability -- than you have to play the game a little bit like Poker, ie, make it seem like your hand is nowhere near as good as it actually is. So in taking optimal actions in character, you the player have to always have an awareness of how frustrated the GM is getting, and when to hold back, and have an in character reason for your character to hold back or not.

[Shadowdagger213]

Ok, here is a list of the character classes I CAN play... I am also able to use Complete Champion, PHB2, all the Completes, and probably Dragonomacon...

Barbarian, Bard, Beguiler, Dragon Shaman, Duskblade, Favored Soul, Fighter, Hexblade, Knight, Scout, Shugenja, Spellthief, Spirit Shaman, Sorcerer, Warlock, Warmage, and Wu Jen (*whew*)

These classes and the books they come from, plus any PrC from those books...those are the rules.

Single Class, Class/Prc, or Multiclass (no more than 2)...my preference. Although I would consider Racial Paragon Class, the Saint Template or Variants.

Thank you Playgrounders

[Shadowdagger213]

Ok, here is a list of the character classes I CAN play... I am also able to use Complete Champion, PHB2, all the Completes, and probably Dragonomacon...

Barbarian, Bard, Beguiler, Dragon Shaman, Duskblade, Favored Soul, Fighter, Hexblade, Knight, Scout, Shugenja, Spellthief, Spirit Shaman, Sorcerer, Warlock, Warmage, and Wu Jen (*whew*)

These classes and the books they come from, plus any PrC from those books...those are the rules.

Single Class, Class/Prc, or Multiclass (no more than 2)...my preference. Although I would consider Racial Paragon Class, the Saint Template or Variants.

Thank you Playgrounders


Oh, forgot something...

This is the list because the DM challenged me to "Play something I've never played before as a single class.

[Malroth]

"spells run out" true but so do Hitpoints and spells come back on their own eventually regaining HP almost always require spells, plus spells can end encounters with a single action.

EDIT: Seeing the list I'd say Bard, Beguiler or Warlock are the only viable options

[Gavinfoxx]

So.

PHB
DMG
MM1

The Completes & Complete Champion

Draconomicon

With a restriction against Cleric and Druid for some reason. Can you explain this?

Do you have access to the SRD? What about other online sources?

And there is a silly houserule restriction regarding multiclassing and prestige classing. Can you explain this?

And spells do not have to run out. ;) ;)

[Shadowdagger213]

Gavinfoxxxx,

your reply beat my last post... please read above.... :smallbiggrin:

[Gavinfoxx]

Yea, I see that. and I edited it. My questions stand...

Based on that list... I'd say Shugenja or Spirit Shaman, maybe Favoured Soul, myself.

Do you not have access to ANY more books than that? And can you get a variant of a normal class? Like a variant for Cleric? Do you have access to Magic Item Compendium? Spell Compendium? SRD or online sources? Any of the monster manuals??

After all, take a look at this:

http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=292794

That is an example of what can be done with a level 1 Cleric!

[Kelb_Panthera]

An interesting mid-power option could be a rogue/assassin, provided spell compendium is in play. Being evil can't come into conflict with the party when there is no party so that shouldn't be a problem. Stealth can help you avoid encounters, death attack can end encounters in a single blow with a bit of DC pumping, and more standard encounters can be reasonably handled via spells and modest combat ability.

As long as you remember that "discretion is the better part of valor" and bug-out when things go south, survivability should be reasonably solid.

If I've read you correctly, the available books are Core (PHB, DMG, and MM1), the complete series (it'd be helpful if you clarified either the original four or all seven), Book of Exalted Deeds (precious little for a solo'er to draw from) and maybe draconomicon (don't bother with anything except maybe draconic cohort). Is that right?

[Gavinfoxx]

If he has access to the SRD, Wildshape Ranger would be nice, what with Master of Many Forms and Dragon Wild Shape and such. Of course, this is predicated on the GM realizing that a heavily variant version of a class with most of the abilities changed from the normal set being a different class!

I mean hell, look at this Ranger I made:

http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=302122

Pretty much every class feature is swapped out for a non-standard one!

[Norin]

Hmms, would make a Duskblade and have some fun gishing it out.

Some arcane power, good melee, amazing damage potential, all knowledge skills so you can figure stuff out, pretty good survivability solo, etc.

That's my suggestion.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Archivist and Artificer, unfortunately I will not have access to....

Everyone has access to Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3).

[Gavinfoxx]

Everyone has access to Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3).

Except he still hasn't answered our questions on whether or not he is allowed to use web content!

[Darius Kane]

Everyone has access to Archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3).
Doesn't mean that the OP is allowed to take Archivist.

[Shadowdagger213]

Except he still hasn't answered our questions on whether or not he is allowed to use web content!

web content = www.d20srd.org

[Shadowdagger213]

And I completely forgot about the Duskblade, which I CAN use, since DM will allow PHB2!

:belkar:

[Lonely Tylenol]

If you had access to everything, I would suggest playing a Mystic Ranger, which has full BAB, 2 good saves, 6+INT skills, full casting up to 10th level (when it gets 5th-level spells) from the Ranger list and, with the Sword of the Arcane Order feat, the Wizard list with a spellbook, a couple feats to help combat ability (or, optionally, Wild Shape, which is fantastic)... A dip into Scout and the Swift Hunter feat gives you some mobile combat options (and perhaps the best possible method of delivering skirmish damage, if you shape into something with Pounce), and you could even grab some Sneak Attack with the Hunter's Eye spell (Ranger 2), giving you a little of everything and making you Lightning Warrior Lite for a full ten levels.

But for this to all happen, you'd need access to the following:
Player's Handbook (d20srd)
Unearthed Arcana (d20srd)
Player's Handbook II (not core)
Complete Adventurer (Complete Series; probably have access to it)
Champions of Valor (Faerunian splat)
Dragon Magazine (you do not have access to this)

Wildshape Ranger can see some use on its own, though...

[Gavinfoxx]

So only allowed d20srd and NO OTHER OFFICIAL WEB CONTENT? You are absolutely sure?

What about all the stuff mentioned here:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QBrn0Ns7X_YJ:www.minmaxboards.com/index.php%3Ftopic%3D513.0+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Temporarily using google's cache while minmaxboards is down.

[Shadowdagger213]

So only allowed d20srd and NO OTHER OFFICIAL WEB CONTENT? You are absolutely sure?

What about all the stuff mentioned here:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QBrn0Ns7X_YJ:www.minmaxboards.com/index.php%3Ftopic%3D513.0+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Temporarily using google's cache while minmaxboards is down.

Absolutely sure.... just the SRD and the above mentioned books.


:frown:

[Amphetryon]

How does your DM stand on Rainbow Servant's casting progression? If it's full-casting in his opinion (there's a longstanding debate about text vs. table), I'd suggest pairing it with Beguiler or Duskblade with your restrictions.