[3.5] Demonologist

[Fynzmirs]

I want to create a character with some kind of demonology flavour. And by demonology I mean either binding fiends to serve me or being a cultist who allows them to spread chaos and destruction...

I was thinking about a wizard with Planar Binding, but even a lesser version is still a 5th level spell. Problem is, that we'll be starting at low levels, and I would like to have this 'demonology flavour' since the beginning. Improved familiar is also a nice option, but it requires 7th level...

On the other hand, warlock does have some 'demonology' fluff, but he doesn't have this 'demon summoning' thing. Same with a binder - nice, but mainly buffing itself.

In early levels just wielding demonic powers would still be enough, but I don't know whether binder/wizard multiclassing works (I'm afraid it doesn't).

So, any feats/classes/prestige classes/races/ACFs that will help me with this build?

Every existing book that has "D&D 3" or "D&D 3.5" on it is permitted.

Also, "flavour above optimization".

[Venger]

there is a prestige class literally called demonologist in book of vile darkness that will do everything you need. it provides fast access to to the planar binding line and is centered around summoning demons.

depending on your familiarity with the system and comfort level with bookkeeping you may get use out of a build I like for demonologist:
warmage 5/demonologist 9/nar demonbinder 6

take versatile spellcaster to enter demonologist on time, pay the taxes for entry, and enter unapproachable east's nar demonbinder when you're done. it is another class centered around summoning demons and planar binding stuff. take arcane disciple summoner domain and boost your summons a further +1 and have fun.

[Falontani]

I want to create a character with some kind of demonology flavour. And by demonology I mean either binding fiends to serve me or being a cultist who allows them to spread chaos and destruction...

I was thinking about a wizard with Planar Binding, but even a lesser version is still a 5th level spell. Problem is, that we'll be starting at low levels, and I would like to have this 'demonology flavour' since the beginning. Improved familiar is also a nice option, but it requires 7th level...

On the other hand, warlock does have some 'demonology' fluff, but he doesn't have this 'demon summoning' thing. Same with a binder - nice, but mainly buffing itself.

In early levels just wielding demonic powers would still be enough, but I don't know whether binder/wizard multiclassing works (I'm afraid it doesn't).

So, any feats/classes/prestige classes/races/ACFs that will help me with this build?

Every existing book that has "D&D 3" or "D&D 3.5" on it is permitted.

Unearthed Arcana has alternate summoning rules allowing you to customize your loadout with various CR appropriate summons.
http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=6320.0
A handbook containing that major majority of all evil outsiders in the game. It has been assisting me quite a bit with creating my own demonologist.

As for classes: there are a good number of classes that will work for a demonologist. Wizard and Cleric will do the best at it. Sorcerer and Favored Soul can also handle it albeit less capably. Archivist is definitely a good choice for theme and power.
Artificer is an interesting choice, and if paired with the feat: Extract Demonic Essence is able to be quite thematic.

Prestige classes are where things get interesting. There is the classic:
Demonologist from Book of Vile Darkness (entry requirements aren't nice due to the garbage feat requirements) but easily lends itself to Cleric or Archivist entry.
It's claim to power lies in
Summoning Mastery (Su): When a demonologist of 3rd level or higher casts a summon monster spell, it is treated as the equivalent spell of two levels higher for purposes of summoning chaotic evil creatures.
For example, a demonologist refers to the summon monster IV list for chaotic evil outsiders when casting summon monster II. At 6th level, the demonologist refers to the summoning list three levels higher than the one for the summon monster spell he is casting. At 9th level, the demonologist refers to the list four levels higher.
Acolyte of the Skin from Complete Arcane (entry is rather easy) easily lends itself to all the different classes I listed earlier among others slightly more unique (10 hexblade). However the class itself is undoubtedly weak, so flavor is all you will get.
Malconvoker is one of the most powerful of the different classes that focus on summoning/binding demons, however it is most definitely not a demonologist as you can not be evil!
Next up is Nar Demonbinder from Forgotten Realm's own Unapproachable East. Nar Demonbinder is exceedingly powerful with the one problem of, it can't learn Gate or Summon Monster IX, meaning you won't get your most powerful ones out.
Finally we have the Fiendbinder from Tome of Magic. This class is most definitely going to be hard to enter, and use. But if you are able to use it successfully every evil outsider in the game is at your finger tips. Including the fiendish Aspects. It's signature ability is the ability to at an astronomical truespeech check of 15+2x it's CR (meaning to call Demogorgon you need to hit a DC 61) You can call any evil outsider and have it serve you for your fiendbinder level in rounds. However this is a calling effect, and the ability never specifies it goes home at the end of the duration. So it seems that essentially you call it forth, it serves you willingly for your fiendbinder number of rounds, and then is free to go home if it wishes.

[RoboEmperor]

1. Play an Artificer
2. At level 6 craft an Eternal Wand of Magic Circle against Evil (wiz3), Lesser Planar Binding (Dem3), and Lesser Geas (bard3)
3. Use Lesser Planar Binding twice a day and enslave the resulting creature twice a day with lesser geas.

or

1. Become a Wiz7
2. Pay someone to cast lesser planar binding
3. Enslave the creature with Lesser Geas

or

1. Go Wiz7/NarDemonbinder1
2. Cast Lesser Planar Binding as a level 4 spell at level 8.

[noce]

Being a low level wizard you could still summon monsters, every summon spell summons fiendish critters, so it's something.

If you want to increase the demon feeling, start with an outsider race, for example deep imaskari with otherworldy, and cast Alter Self often enough to make it clear you have fiendish powers.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

In Fiendish Codex I, starting on page 21, you can find rules/mechanics for making a character possessed by a demon. It's possible to apply this to a 1st level character, but keep in mind that this can and should backfire horribly (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?550002-Suggestions-for-allowing-disallowing-fiendish-possession#9).

[Piggy Knowles]

I think Wizard is probably your best bet for the demonologist vibe at low levels. You get all the tools you need. If you want to branch out at higher levels, you could do something like Nar Demonbinder into Ultimate Magus, which will let you end up with 9th-level wizard spells and 8th-level nar demonbinder spells. Something like:

1. Wizard1- Spell Focus (Conjuration), Augment Summoning, Fiendish Summoning Specialist
2. Wizard2-
3. Wizard3- Extend Spell
4. Wizard4-
5. Wizard5-
6. Master Specialist1- Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Iron Will*
7. Master Specialist2-
8. Nar Demonbinder1-
9. Nar Demonbinder2- Penumbra Bloodline
10. Ultimate Magus1-
11. Ultimate Magus2-
12. Ultimate Magus3- Practiced Spellcaster (Nar Demonbinder)
13. Ultimate Magus4-
14. Ultimate Magus5- Quicken Spell
15. Ultimate Magus6- Fiendish Summoning Specialist
16. Ultimate Magus7-
17. Ultimate Magus8-
18. Ultimate Magus9- Spell Focus (Illusion), Persistent Spell
19. Ultimate Magus10-
20. Archmage1-

*If you can pick up this feat via an Otyugh Hole, then do it... extra feats are always nice, letting you take something like Arcane Mastery or Repeat/Twin Spell

ACFs: Specialist Conjurer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/specialistWizardVariants.htm#conjurerVariants) (Rapid Summoning & Enhanced Summoning), Domain Granted Power - Summoner

You'll be able to advance wizard at every level where you can only advance your lower CL class, so the end result is that you cast as though you had 18 levels in wizard and 9 in nar demonbinder, giving you 9th-level wizard spells and 8th-level nar demonbinder spells. Penumbra Bloodline gives you the spontaneous 1st-level spell necessary to qualify for UM (feel free to replace with any of the bloodline feats; Fiendish Bloodline has a crappy spell list but good flavor, and anyhow you don't lack for spells). You can use your nar demonbinder spells to apply metamagic to your wizard spells (or vice versa, but that's usually how it will go). You'll have lots of flavorful demonic spells, an iron sign that you can use to trap outsiders or to strengthen your planar binding and a quasit familiar to service you.

During the early levels your main way of getting that demonologist feel is via summoning, but you can use your class feature Abrupt Jaunt to play up the otherworldly nature; try fluffing it as a demonic overlord reaching through the fabric of reality to pull you out of harm's way. Once you hit level 8, you're a full fledged demonologist, able to bind demons to your will and with a little demon pet of your very own. (Alternately, trade your familiar for Rapid Summoning instead... probably strictly better for this build but I like Abrupt Jaunt.) (Never mind, made the Rapid Summoning version the main build.)

EDIT: Actually, you do free up a feat by using the conjuration specialist thanks to getting Augment Summoning in place of Scribe Scroll. That can open up the very nice Fiendish Summoning Specialist feat. So yeah, editing the build to reflect that.