Spellslinger Build

[Buddy76]

So, I was reading through Lost Empires of Faerun and came across the Magelord PrC. Now, I loved the fluff but the PrC itself... not so much. It did,however, left me thinking about an arrogant arcane duelist character that goes around challenging other mages.
Anyone has any ideas of what a good build for a character like that would look like?

[Darrin]

Oook. This PrC is mentioned occasionally in the Iron Chef threads for it's legendary poopstank. Entry requirements are almost as bad, if not worse, than Fochlucan Lyrist.

Hmm. Looks like the issue is the evasion requirement, as attempting to get it via class levels tends to prevent you from finishing all ten levels pre-epic. (Evasion as a racial trait? Does that even exist?) The specific wording even prevents using soulmelds to get evasion.

Spelldancer gets evasion, but needs four more combat feats... I think we can just barely squeeze them in:

Race: Human
Build: Feat Rogue 1/Martial Wizard 7/Spelldancer 2/Mage Lord 10
Feats: Endurance (1st), Dodge (1st Hum), Mobility (1st Rog), Improved Initiative (2nd Wiz), Spell Mastery (3rd), Signature Spell (6th), Weapon Focus (6th Wiz), Combat Casting (9th)

Ugh. Divine Oracle works a little better (only one useless feat tax), if you can get the DM to agree that Prescient Sense counts as a "form of evasion".

Race: Human
Build: Martial Wizard 7/Divine Oracle 2/Mage Lord 10/Something 1
Feats: Skill Focus KnowRel (1st), Improved Initiative (1st Wiz), Spell Mastery (1st Hum), Signature Spell (3rd), Weapon Focus (5th Wiz)

Other than that, you're probably looking at various Early Entry Shenanigans (Improved Sigil Krau, Sanctum Spell, etc.)

Now, of course, that wasn't what you were asking for... if you want someone who specializes in mage duels...

Tibbit Psion 20 who pays a hireling to pretend to be an arcane duelist with a "cat" familiar.

[BowStreetRunner]

Looks like the issue is the evasion requirement, as attempting to get it via class levels tends to prevent you from finishing all ten levels pre-epic. (Evasion as a racial trait? Does that even exist?) The specific wording even prevents using soulmelds to get evasion.
An arcane caster can pick up Evasion from 4 levels of the Combat Medic PrC as long as you have a way of getting Cure Light Wounds on your spell list. I know Sorcerers can get this with the Domain Access ACF.

[nedz]

Are you asking for a Magelord build ?

Or just an arcane duellist build - whatever that means ?

It's a pretty poor class. Full casting, but half BAB and only 2 skill points per level - so it doesn't appeal to either kind of gish.

[Eisfalken]

So, I was reading through Lost Empires of Faerun and came across the Magelord PrC. Now, I loved the fluff but the PrC itself... not so much. It did,however, left me thinking about an arrogant arcane duelist character that goes around challenging other mages.
Anyone has any ideas of what a good build for a character like that would look like?

Just took a look and... yeah, magelord sucks.

Okay. There's two different ways to go with this. If you want to keep the sneak attack stuff, just do an unseen seer build and fluff yourself however you want. Forget about Spell Mastery; if you need to ditch your book, just beg your way into eidetic spellcaster from Dragon #357.

If you want to be good at tearing down other arcane caster spells, consider abjurant champion. You don't actually "have" to build it as a gish; you just need a martial weapon prof to qualify, and you get a good list of benefits from at least the first 4 levels (mostly swift-action abjuration spells, meaning you can dispel enemies and still throw your own spell out there).

If you want the idea of an "arcane duelist" who fight with rapier and spell alike, don't be ashamed to build that gish out; it's a cool idea. Duskblade/wizard/spellsword/ab-champ/EK (if Knight Phantom is off the table). Stick to using a rapier, with githcraft mithral light shield and chain shirt for armor; put wand grips in both sword and shield, put useful wands in there. Get eidetic spellcaster if the DM will let you (get Obtain Familiar later anyway, so duskblade and everything else stacks for familiar abilities). Take Arcane Strike at 3rd, so you can burn spells for melee fighting. You can go specialist or even focused specialist if you want to stick to abjuration magic as your main way to tear down other wizards; sack enchantment, evocation, and/or necromancy. If you play an elf, even better: go for elf generalist wizard ACF to get the bonus spell, and consider strongly to get Elven Spell Lore (which both helps you dispel stuff, and you get the added bonus of changing an energy-damage spell to do other kinds of energy, thus potentially making it more useful).

I would say, in the end, that this is more of a role-playing thing and taking specific options to back up that playstyle. Just think about what you want to play, find the options that best suit it, and go with that.

[Darrin]

An arcane caster can pick up Evasion from 4 levels of the Combat Medic PrC as long as you have a way of getting Cure Light Wounds on your spell list. I know Sorcerers can get this with the Domain Access ACF.

You also need Heal as a class skill. I looked at maybe throwing in Prestige Bard for CLW, but that needs Perform. It got too klunky.

[Buddy76]

Oook. This PrC is mentioned occasionally in the Iron Chef threads for it's legendary poopstank. Entry requirements are almost as bad, if not worse, than Fochlucan Lyrist.

Hmm. Looks like the issue is the evasion requirement, as attempting to get it via class levels tends to prevent you from finishing all ten levels pre-epic. (Evasion as a racial trait? Does that even exist?) The specific wording even prevents using soulmelds to get evasion.

Spelldancer gets evasion, but needs four more combat feats... I think we can just barely squeeze them in:

Race: Human
Build: Feat Rogue 1/Martial Wizard 7/Spelldancer 2/Mage Lord 10
Feats: Endurance (1st), Dodge (1st Hum), Mobility (1st Rog), Improved Initiative (2nd Wiz), Spell Mastery (3rd), Signature Spell (6th), Weapon Focus (6th Wiz), Combat Casting (9th)

Ugh. Divine Oracle works a little better (only one useless feat tax), if you can get the DM to agree that Prescient Sense counts as a "form of evasion".

Race: Human
Build: Martial Wizard 7/Divine Oracle 2/Mage Lord 10/Something 1
Feats: Skill Focus KnowRel (1st), Improved Initiative (1st Wiz), Spell Mastery (1st Hum), Signature Spell (3rd), Weapon Focus (5th Wiz)

Other than that, you're probably looking at various Early Entry Shenanigans (Improved Sigil Krau, Sanctum Spell, etc.)

Now, of course, that wasn't what you were asking for... if you want someone who specializes in mage duels...

Tibbit Psion 20 who pays a hireling to pretend to be an arcane duelist with a "cat" familiar.

Yeah, I thought about ways to save the class too, but divine oracle never crossed my mind. Thanks for the tip :smallsmile: . That Tibbit psion idea is just the best and I must try it sometime, it will leave my DM scratching his head in futile anger and confusion :smallbiggrin:.
As for the duelist build, I was thinking about a Fire elf Beguiler 1/Wizard 4/Ultimate Magus 10/something else 5. I would take practised spell caster for the Beguiler and get 9/10 progression on the wizard side, plus free quickened spell shenaningans. Since the character is a Beguiler he could be a shady type, hanging around the less reputable parts of town and taking bets on his duels. A fire elf with improved initiative would have a "quick draw" and could open with a free quickened high level spell, followed by another high level spell.

[BowStreetRunner]

You also need Heal as a class skill. I looked at maybe throwing in Prestige Bard for CLW, but that needs Perform. It got too klunky.
Forgot about that. The character I put together a while back as proof-of-concept for Sorcerer/Healer was Dragonborn with the Draconic Sorcerer ACF and Gold Dragon Heritage, thus Heal as a class skill.