Build advice: From the Beginning [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

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akinra

2013-10-14, 06:40 PM

Ok, so I am looking to join a group already in progress. The GM had me roll up some dice for creation purposes. I received:

18 14 14 12 10 10

and

16 16 14 12 10 10

I can use either or.

Rules for Creation:
1) No +LA Races.
2) Class must be available online, or must have book.
3) Skills must be available online, or must have book.
4) Feats must be available online, or must have book.
5) GM reserves the right to ban-hammer anything.
6) GM prefers 'gentleman's agreements' to banning/nerfing. (e.g. if you don't abuse, he will not ban).

Party at Present (All Are Currently Level Two):
1) Wizard. (Whisper Gnome)Transmutation Focused Specialist.
2) Rogue. (Human) 18 charisma, focused on Social Skills.
3) Ranger. (Human) Unsure as to build focus.
4) Druid. (Kobold) Most experienced of the RPers. I expect . . . madness.

My Thoughts (PLEASE -Feel free to add to these):

1) Artificer (Buffificer) to help the rogue and ranger shine.
Con: GM is issuing 'Chapter' experience, not exp as we go, might prove problems for crafting pool.

2) Factotum. Since the rogue is focused on Social, this would cover all other needed skills.
Con: Not sure how I feel about pitching Autohypnosis + Gnomish Quickrazor + Iajitsu Focus to the GM on the first real meeting. . .

My personal favorite races (personal opinion more than mechanics):
Warforged Scout, Gnomes of all flavors (especially Forest and Whisper).

Favorite race (Mechanical):
For casters, my favorite race is Strongheart Halfling, but that is just for optimization, not for anything else.

With all that said; thank you in advance, and . . . Go!

18 14 14 12 10 10

Class: Factotum (http://dndtools.eu/classes/factotum/)
Race: Forest Gnome: (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Gnomes,_Forest_(Race))
Stats: 8 Str 14 Dex 14 Con 18 Int 10 Wis 14 Cha
Flaw: Shaky (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/UA:Shaky)
Flaw: Murky Eyed (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/UA:Murky-Eyed)
Feat: Font of Inspiration (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070606)
Feat (Flaw): Font of Inspiration
Feat (Flaw): Font of Inspiration
Feat (Level 3): EWP: Gnomish Quickrazor OR Improved Weapon Familiarity.

Skills: 40+10/level
Max out Intimidation, Bluff, Iajutsu Focus, Autohypnosis
About 5 Ranks in Each:
Concentration, Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft, and Move Silently
At least one rank in all others, with priority of 1 rank in:
Swim, Climb by level 3 when Brains over Brawn kicks in.

Other thoughts on skills:
Search out decent (or better than decent) synergy bonuses/skill tricks that I have never bothered with due to lack of skills/level!

geekintheground

2013-10-14, 06:58 PM

akinra

2013-10-14, 07:03 PM

i like your factotum, but i dont think you need EWP. wasnt there a rule somewhere that said youre proficient with weapons that have your races name or something? or that you could trade familiarity with one racial weapon for another?

The listing for gnomes I have says only proficient in Gnome Hooked Hammer as a martial. Improved Weapon Familiarity grants proficiency in all weapons with race name in them.

GM is particularly RAW, so no subbing.

DruidAlanon

2013-10-14, 07:30 PM

Would you consider a cleric (lesser asimaar or gnome). At low levels you're a very good melee as well. If youhave good alignment check out dragonborn template for a +0LA as well.
Then a normal build can follow with divine metamagic+ quicken spell+ whatever you want and here you are, the best buffer in the game; and then you optimize in relevance to the story (eg exorcist, bone knight or whatever)

Have you ever considered the warlock..?

Cog

2013-10-14, 08:05 PM

GM is particularly RAW, so no subbing.
There is RAW for that substitution: pages 154/155 of Complete Warrior.

SciChronic

2013-10-14, 08:15 PM

I would suggest a beguiler, you get all the skills you need for being a skillmonkey, and you can contribute in fights though control spells. if you end up going the whisper gnome route you can prc into shadowcraft mage which has some pretty exciting possibilities through the use of Heighten Spell, Silent Image, and Shadow Illusion.

Your DM says no +LA races, what about templates? because dark or necropolitan are always good.

akinra

2013-10-14, 11:29 PM

There is RAW for that substitution: pages 154/155 of Complete Warrior.

That puts a smile on my old face! Also, looking into beguiler and cleric.

Cleric skills are a little lacking, but the buff capacity is really enticing. Who cares about save DC when all you are casting are buffs and heals?

(Un)Inspired

2013-10-14, 11:47 PM

Do you have Heros of Horror?

If so, a whisper gnome Archivist would be incredibly cool. Take the Apprentice feat from DMG 2 so that hide and move silent are always class skills for you and now you are a gnome who lives in the shadows studying the horrible monsters that live therein.

You get great saves, amazing divine spells that you can pull from any divine list, incredible sneaking skills and the ability to give your entire party buffs against monsters you fight using knowledge skills.

Zombulian

2013-10-14, 11:49 PM

For party cheerleading/buffing as you seem to be partial to, I would actually recommend Truenamer. Zaq made an excellent guide for them and they are mega-flavorful and work with Gnomes fairly well - thanks to the Trivial Knowledge feat. I would very much recommend looking into them, but be cautious: "Seven out of eleven players who use Truenamer lose their ability to taste icecream."

Gwendol

2013-10-15, 02:57 AM

DruidAlanon

2013-10-15, 05:49 AM

You have a druid in the party: go bard! Seriously, please consider it. Inspire courage will make the druid AC and summons rip through enemies like a scythe through a field of wheat.

EDIT: Let the rogue do the face thing, you can quietly strum away in the background...

I've written the same thing, then reread about the charismatic rouge... It would be a pitty to have a bard that doesn't charm others. Bard makes wonderful sense though.