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The_Scourge
2007-03-19, 10:31 PM
Greetings all.
I'm looking to create a character obsessed with fire. I know it seems pretty basic but I can't seem to figure out a nice build. Wizards seem too weak and clerics lack the fire related spells. I'd like to start at lvl 1 and if you can give me a progression that'd be super.
Thanks
The Scourge

Oh, also I'm aware of the Pyrokineticist, but I have a thorough dislike for Psionics

Galathir
2007-03-19, 11:10 PM
Warmage from Complete Arcane might be your best bet. He doesn't deal exclusively in fire, but he has more than enough to choose from. As a base class, you can start at level one. Just be aware that he will be a blaster caster, not a real utility caster so it will help to have another arcane caster in your party.

As another option, you could go with Elemental Savant, a PrC also from Complete Arcane. I don't think you can qualify for it until level five, but it might really fit your character idea.

alchemy.freak
2007-03-19, 11:20 PM
Sounds like a friend of mine would love this

Baerdog7
2007-03-19, 11:24 PM
Alternatively, you could go psionic with a psion (kineticist) or soulknife entering the Pyrokineticist PrC when they can. I would personally recommend going Soulknife/Pyrokineticist. The PrC nicely meshes with the Soulknife class (and beefs it up, somewhat) and you don't have to worry about losing ten levels worth of manefesting ability if you start as a psion.

-Baerdog7

Assassinfox
2007-03-19, 11:25 PM
Alternatively, you could go psionic with a psion (kineticist) or soulknife entering the Pyrokineticist PrC when they can. I would personally recommend going Soulknife/Pyrokineticist. The PrC nicely meshes with the Soulknife class (and beefs it up, somewhat) and you don't have to worry about losing ten levels worth of manefesting ability if you start as a psion.

-Baerdog7

He said he doesn't like psionics. :smallannoyed:

Variable Arcana
2007-03-19, 11:41 PM
Warlocks are fun -- they never run out of "fire"power... :smalltongue: Of course, they can't really set things on fire with their blasts until 6th level (Brimstone Blast)

(If you do go the wizard route, get Spell Compendium and flip through it -- tons of fire-based spells to add to your book...)

Edit:

Forget all of that. You want Druid.

At first level, you've got Produce Flame (1 min/level of fiery goodness), and with Spell Compendium; Animate Fire, which turns a campfire into a small fire elemental for 1 round/level; and the ever-fun Raging Flame. At second you get Fire Trap, Flame Blade, Flaming Sphere, Heat Metal and Fire Resistance.

I don't have Complete Divine in front of me -- but I'm pretty sure there's a good prestige class to build on a fire-based druid. (One that lets you wildshape into a fire elemental... maybe it's in Complete Warrior...)

Baerdog7
2007-03-19, 11:42 PM
He said he doesn't like psionics. :smallannoyed:

Gah! *ker-headsmack*

Totally missed that line. My apologies. I refer the OP to Galathir's request, then.

My apologies.

-Baerdog7

Roland St. Jude
2007-03-19, 11:45 PM
You could pick up the Fiendish Codex II and play a Hellfire Warlock (PrC).

Meat Shield
2007-03-19, 11:57 PM
I have to second the warmage thence to elemental savant. No messing around with that build, its all about the fire.

Dhavaer
2007-03-20, 12:00 AM
Wu Jen have the ability to specialise in fire. An extra few caster levels can always be useful.

Assassinfox
2007-03-20, 12:02 AM
Shugenja can also specialize in fire.

Tor the Fallen
2007-03-20, 12:26 AM
Energy Subsitution: Fire.

Rockphed
2007-03-20, 12:38 AM
I don't have Complete Divine in front of me -- but I'm pretty sure there's a good prestige class to build on a fire-based druid. (One that lets you wildshape into a fire elemental... maybe it's in Complete Warrior...)

All druids get elemental wildshape at level 15. Which is really cool because a 15 hit die elemental is normally large or huge. Buy you can be medium or even small. don't ask me what the purpose of being a small elemental is. But fire elementals are about the hottest thing ever.

Borogove
2007-03-20, 02:53 AM
Go druid, and grab the elemental companion alternate class feature, which can be found here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061010a).

Simius
2007-03-20, 06:51 AM
Or go ex-druid and take the Blighter PrC (Complete Divine) which is accidentally the most awesome PrC ever (though not exactly the most useful).

Vodun
2007-03-20, 09:40 AM
If you're looking for a non-maigcal Pyromaniac, I highly suggest being a halfling (bonuses on thrown weapons) rogue, if only for the ability to sneak around and rain alchemists fire upon your enemies. If you multiclass to wizard, you can do Craft: alchemy checks and make your own. Maybe get some flaming enchantments on your arrows, things like that.

PinkysBrain
2007-03-20, 10:21 AM
Actually a TWF rogue thrower would be a great build at higher levels ... when you can afford throwing that many alchemist fires around. Get a ring of blinking to be able to sneak attack with your alchemist fires, you only have to hit touch AC.

For some of the more powerful fire magic use magic items (scrolls&staffs work, but custom magic items or a custom weapon of legacy would be better if allowed).

Khantalas
2007-03-20, 10:53 AM
You could submit to the greatness that is psionics.

But seriously, my favorite elemental way to go is Favored Soul / Elemental Archon. At the end, you become a fire elemental. How can you love fire more?

Person_Man
2007-03-20, 11:19 AM
Assuming you don't want to use a Pyrokineticist, I'd use a Dragonfire Adept (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060912a&page=2). All day breath weapon attacks, nifty special abilities. If built properly, they're quite good at battlefield control and certain Skills and/or toolbox functions.

The_Scourge
2007-03-20, 02:19 PM
Wow, thanks for the response guys, druid sounds very interesting, I like the halfling grenadier too.
The grenadier seems like a one trick pony though, are there any other good "grenade" weapons other than Alchemist's Fire?

X15lm204
2007-03-20, 03:01 PM
I personally have had a lot of fun with a Swordsage specializing in the Desert Wind style for a more martial pyromaniac. With some skill for description and maneuvers like Burning Brand, Death Mark, and Ring of Fire you can make a truly awesome and intimidating character.

Dareon
2007-03-20, 03:09 PM
For grenades, there are a few other elements, usually acid, though if you draw from Eberron there's alchemist's frost and alchemist's spark too. Tanglefoot bags are good for battlefield control... There's some magical versions of alchemist's fire in Dragon 334, too, that add some special effects.

I would reiterate the awesomeness that is Pyrokineticist, though. Play a psionic race, take the right skills, and just pretend their psi-like abilities are spell-like. Pyro doesn't actually mess with the regular Psionics rules at all, it's all psi-like abilities and some fire resistance. You might be able to get a DM to make it spell-like for you by switching the focus of a skill prereq and changing the power point prereq to a caster level.

I suggest Pyro because my character in an upcoming Dark Sun campaign (Using Dragon 319's races, but Athas.org's (http://www.athas.org/releases/) other stuff) is a Fire Cleric/Pyrokineticist. If it doesn't burn, she just needs to use more fire.

If you go spellcaster, grab the Fiery Burst reserve feat from Complete Mage. Damage is a little low compared to actual spells, but you gain the staying power of a Warlock.

Variable Arcana
2007-03-20, 03:21 PM
Other good grenades: flasks of oil, acid and holy water (depending on what you're throwing at), thunderstones (deafening an enemy is quite nice if you have access to invisibility), tanglefoot bags, sacks of caltrops (if you're strong enough), smokesticks...

You can actually duplicate quite a number of useful spells -- and not run out of 'spell slots' until your Haversack is quite empty.

If you do take a level of wizard so you can use Craft(Alchemy) -- consider the 0th level arcane spell "Launch Item" -- lets you 'throw' grenade-type-objects out to Medium range (100'+10'/level) instead of to a 10' range increment.

Not sure why you'd go rogue, though -- go fighter and get full BAB and lots of feats... TWF and Quick Draw to begin with... Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, and so on, and don't forget these from PHII: Grenadier (+1 to attack and damage with thrown splash weapons) and Mad Alchemist.

OzymandiasVolt
2007-03-20, 03:23 PM
Other items that may be of interest are the reserve feats from Complete Mage (houserule the nonfire ones to do fire) and the elemental grafts from Magic of Eberron.

ReluctantDragon
2007-03-20, 03:26 PM
I will toss another hat into the Warmage/Elemental Savant ring. This past weekend I played an earth/acid focused warmage, which in hindsight was somewhat limited, but still a blast to play.

ShneekeyTheLost
2007-03-20, 05:34 PM
My suggestion:

Ranger/Pyrokeneticist4

Go ranged Ranger. Do the elemental sub pet for druids, since you get a pet like a druid half your level, and get a fire elemental pet.

Here's what Pyrokeneticist 4 does for you:

1) you get to create a Flame Lash which does 1d8 fire damage on a touch attack, range of 15'

2) Make any weapon you hold do an extra 2d6 fire damage (like, say, your bow)

3) Shoot out a Bolt of Fire which does 4d6 fire damage as a ranged touch attack (for when they have obnoxious armor/nat armor to AC)

4) Hands Afire to get +2d6 fire damage on unarmed attacks, which are considered to be armed for purposes of determining AoO. Not too useful, granted, but it looks cool as heck.

It has zero to do with Manifesting anything, the only prerequsite is that you have power points (blow a feat on Wild Talent, if you like, and just consider it the prerequsite for getting the PrC), other than that, it is just a magic-using class with a funny name.

So you literally get to rain fire down on your opponents with either flaming arrows (without having to buy the enchantment on your bow, and doing twice as much fire damage on every hit) or your Bolt of Fire (which you can do an unlimited number of times per day), and you have a fire elemental pet.

Other than that, I'd go Sorcerer/Elemental Savant with an Improved Familiar: Fire Elemental.

DisgruntledFrog
2007-03-20, 09:55 PM
I second Shneeky. Since Pyrokineticist has very little to do with psionics beyond its requirements you might even be able to talk your DM in to swapping out the psionics related prerequisites to something like being able to cast a spell with the [Fire] descriptor and 2 ranks in Knowledge(Arcana).

Alternatively I like sorceror with the Draconic Heritige (red or gold) and Draconic Breathe feats allowing you to burn spells for a firey breathe weapon. Pick up Wild Talent (or talk your DM into the above) then combine that with Pyrokineticist and you have all sorts of ways to throw fire about the palce. If you take Draconic Claw you can fight in melee with burning claws and a whip of fire as well. Hardly optimised, but lots of fun!

Vodun
2007-03-21, 09:14 AM
Wow, thanks for the response guys, druid sounds very interesting, I like the halfling grenadier too.
The grenadier seems like a one trick pony though, are there any other good "grenade" weapons other than Alchemist's Fire?

Well there are potions that you can have made, holy water, acid, tanglefoot bags, alchemists fire and frost, thunderstones, you can use the thrown weapons like Darts, Javelins, spears (albiet those are all not really optimal), The character could actually have alot of flavor through that. You can team up with your parties divine caster who could cast fire seed (turns acorns and nuts into freakin firebombs, ten kinds of awesome), you could use boomerangs (also sub-optimal), but the other guys posting here have much better advice. I do suggest using halflings though. (+1 on attack rolls, bonuses with thrown weapons, +1 to AC when he gets cornered, although they get a strength penalty which might effect you should you actually decide to use the thrown weapons.)

Edit: Ooh. The clatrops, smokesticks and oil are really cool too. wonder why I didnt think of that. Also, if youre evil enough and rich enough, poison could be an option as well.

JellyPooga
2007-03-21, 09:34 AM
On the subject of grenade-like weapons, there's always the Kobold Ditherbomb. It's an Acid grenade. 3 levels of effectiveness which correspond to 3 different areas of effect and damage. The biggest problem? You shake it to activate it and it detonates 1d3 rounds later...don't hold on to it for too long (or jump around too much)...The biggest one can do anything from 1 to 48 points of damage in a 15ft radius burst (but it does cost 1000gp).

Aquillion
2007-03-21, 03:13 PM
Really, just take Pyrokineticist and ignore the fluff; the class doesn't really have anything to do with psionics. Even if you can't convince your DM to let you change the requirements, you can just take Wild Talent or choose a race that starts with power points. You never actually have to take a class that learns manifesting abilities, and you can say that your character just has an 'affinity for fire' instead or whatever fluff you like.

Alternatively, you could go Warlock and take Hellfire Warlock--it's one of the excerpts of the Fiendish Codex II given away for free here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061207a). Although technically in that case you're using hellfire and not normal fire...

A non-psychic Pyrokineticist is really what you want. Yes, you could take a spellcasting class and focus on fire, but most of those will give or offer you abilities that are frankly better than what they offer in terms of fire; unless you have exceptionally strong willpower as a player, you'll probably end up playing the character as a wizard / sorceror / thrower / whatever who happens to have a couple more fire abilities than usual, not as a pyromaniac. Pyrokineticist is one of the few open classes whose abilities scream 'pyromaniac', not just 'has a few decent fire options.'

kamikasei
2007-03-21, 03:25 PM
Pyrokineticist is one of the few open classes whose abilities scream 'pyromaniac', not just 'has a few decent fire options.'

Well, it includes the prerequisite "must have set fire to a structure just to watch it burn". I don't think it's just the abilities that scream...

magnar
2007-03-25, 11:11 AM
There are rules somewhere for a fire siphon, but it's 3.0e I think. I like to get a ranger with multishot and when you get to high levels, smash a vial of alchemist's fire over the heads of your arrows and SHOOT FAST! DM ruling generally lets you do about 1d4 extra damage per shot. Otherwise, go for druids.