Gnome Shadowcrafter Advice

[Gem_Knight]

First off, yes, I know by default this is a fairly easy class to overpower. But I'm looking to join a game that might well be far and beyond any level of optimization I'm used to. So I need help, Handbooks, general advice, whatever.

Right now specifically I'm looking for help with saves, but I could use help in other ways as well. I'm working on a level 8 character having bought off the +1 LA from Chaos Gnome. and I'm trying to get my saves from Fort 5 / Ref 6 /Will 11 (That's without gear) to a higher level, as the DM suggested to me I should try to get them closer to 17-19 as I can expect "easy" saves to run 21+ and I should be looking at passing those with a 2-5... I have ditched my +2 Cloak in lue of the spell Greater Resistance for +3 (Taking the saves to 8/9/14). Forgotten Realms as a whole is banned, Ebberon material however is a go.

Edit* Dragon Magazine is out too...

[Xervous]

Check: "Amidoinitrite?"
heighten spell
earth spell
entered class early (entry as early as 2 is possible with flaws, 4 without)

Assumption: you are using cleric

options:

1. Nightsticks + Divine Metamagic on...
a. Persisting stuff
b. Heightening stuff. 9th level shadowcraft funsies out of 1st level slots.

2. Other prestiges you might like:
a. Dweomerkeeper: Requires a domain, a magical item creation feat (Wondrous item ftw), and the ability to cast both divine and arcane spells. Gives you the option to select a few spells and have them spontaneously castable, grants you the ability to turn any spell into an (Su) a few times per day REMOVING MATERIAL AND XP COMPONENTS (read, free wishes, also Su's don't care about spell resistance or most other things that block spells)
b... nothing coming to mind at the moment...


bleh, too tired to think of more



ALSO, what is your level distribution as of now?

[otakumick]

http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/19872354/Shadowcraft_Mage_Handbook

[Gem_Knight]

Right I'm going Wizard3/Master Specialist4/Shadowcraft Mage 1

Because no flaws meant I couldn't early entry Master Specialist a level early with Precociousness Apprentice

@ otakumick: Thanks I'll check that out

PS/Edit*
any handbooks specifically on increasing saves?

[Gem_Knight]

Check: "Amidoinitrite?"
heighten spell
earth spell
entered class early (entry as early as 2 is possible with flaws, 4 without)

Assumption: you are using cleric

options:

1. Nightsticks + Divine Metamagic on...
a. Persisting stuff
b. Heightening stuff. 9th level shadowcraft funsies out of 1st level slots.

2. Other prestiges you might like:
a. Dweomerkeeper: Requires a domain, a magical item creation feat (Wondrous item ftw), and the ability to cast both divine and arcane spells. Gives you the option to select a few spells and have them spontaneously castable, grants you the ability to turn any spell into an (Su) a few times per day REMOVING MATERIAL AND XP COMPONENTS (read, free wishes, also Su's don't care about spell resistance or most other things that block spells)
b... nothing coming to mind at the moment...


bleh, too tired to think of more



ALSO, what is your level distribution as of now?

Sorry for the double post. I know about Dweomer but given this game probably won't get high enough level for me to get into it, I'm leaving that out. I considered the cleric route but I felt Wizard was the better choice spell-wise, as I'm going focused specialist for more spells.

Lastly- how do you enter as early as level four, Needing Earth Spell means you need three feats and only get two between 1st and 3rd without flaws?

[Keld Denar]

I'd drop the MS. You know that ScM has a build in early entry technique? Heighten Spell + Earth Spell means you can cast 4th level spells as early as level 5, assuming you have all the feats locked down. I still think the best entry into ScM is Wiz5, rather than trying to squeak in some MS levels. Wiz5 gets a bonus feat, one of the things you desperately need to get into ScM before 5. You have to stay in MS longer to get that bonus feat. Not worth it, IMO.

And as far as save DCs...there are only a few things you can do. Vanilla PHB gnome has a +1 DC build right in. Don't lose that. I don't know if Chaos gnome makes up for it. There are a few other things, like Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus, as well as a Veil of Allure (MIC). Other than that, its just a matter of Int bonus and spell level. Get both as high as possible, and you are doing it right. Although, if you increase your quasireality (Enhanced Shadow Reality feat from a Dragon magazine), it won't matter as much if the initial save is made.

[Gem_Knight]

I'd drop the MS. You know that ScM has a build in early entry technique? Heighten Spell + Earth Spell means you can cast 4th level spells as early as level 5, assuming you have all the feats locked down. I still think the best entry into ScM is Wiz5, rather than trying to squeak in some MS levels. Wiz5 gets a bonus feat, one of the things you desperately need to get into ScM before 5. You have to stay in MS longer to get that bonus feat. Not worth it, IMO.

And as far as save DCs...there are only a few things you can do. Vanilla PHB gnome has a +1 DC build right in. Don't lose that. I don't know if Chaos gnome makes up for it. There are a few other things, like Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus, as well as a Veil of Allure (MIC). Other than that, its just a matter of Int bonus and spell level. Get both as high as possible, and you are doing it right. Although, if you increase your quasireality (Enhanced Shadow Reality feat from a Dragon magazine), it won't matter as much if the initial save is made.

No Dragon Magazine either- sorry- I shall Edit to point that out...

I'm honestly more worried about the survivability of this character than the potency, it won't do me any good to have Save DCs of ZOMG! if I fall to one mid level SoD. Thus why I'm trying to push at my saves.

Chaos Gnome gives better stat boosts and the Luck of Chaos Reroll (among other lesser perks) that drew me to the race (Immunity to Confusion, +1 CL for chaos spells- probably won't need that one though)

[Xervous]

Sorry for the ambiguity, that usually happens when I go forum browsing at the time most fire alarms go off...


Now I forget if these all explicitly work, but I've seen each one suggested as an option for entering ridiculously early...

1. Cleric. heighten + DMM heighten + spell focus(illusion). obviously requires flaws, but you supposedly get in at level 2... forget if this actually works

2. Domain wizard. spell focus + sanctum spell. because domain wizard gains access to his X level domain slot when he can cast a spell of X level, you just ride the curve up to get 9th level slots at first level (I'll sanctum spell this 1st into a 2nd, obtain lvl 2 domain slot, 2->3, 3->4 ...) Very very cheesy.

[Keld Denar]

Oh, you meant YOUR saves, not your save DCs...

Well, at 8th level, you should have at least 1 non-Illusion 4th level spell. That should be Greater Resistance for 24 hour +3 on all saves. Eventually, you'll upgrade that to Superior Resistance. That's the same bonus as your Cloak of Resistance would be. Get a familiar, maybe a rat. Keep it in your pocket and just use it for the +2 fort save. Prioritize Con after Int, as long as you have the Wisdom to nab Earth Sense, and pick up a +2 Con neck (or belt or vest, according to the MIC) soon after you get your +2 Int neck. Will save SHOULD be good, given that you'll have a non-negative Wisdom mod (for Earth Sense) and a strong Will save progression. Ref is less important. Keeping your Con high will give you the HP to survive most Ref effects and a small teleportation effect like Anklets of Translocation will help if you ever get webbed or such.

As you get higher level, you'll find gear that'll help you. It doesn't matter if you fail a fort save vs a Death effect if you have Death Ward running, etc. Check out the Necessary Magical Gear (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187851) thread from Ernir. It has a lot of simple items

[Duke Arioch]

You are pumping Concentration as high as possible, right? Try 1 level dip in swordsage or warblade on next level (character level 9) and get 3 Diamond mind counters that replace saves with concentration check. You will lose 1 level in casting which hurts, but getting concentration up is much, much easier than pumping saves. And cheaper. The bonus is you don't fail on a roll of 1, and you can get 1 lvl 1 stance, and if you go swordsage 3 more maneuvers up to lvl 3.

[Keld Denar]

You can get the effects of the Fort save one with a Headband of Conscious Effort (MIC). It allows you to 1/day swap out a Conc check for a Fort save. You could also buy a Diamond Mind item which would allow you to use one DM maneuver of 1-3rd level for about 3,000g. That is WAY better than spending a level.