Squishy help

[Belzyk]

So I'm in a game with a duskblade ranger and cleric. They are all squishy and the DM has allowed the ranger to use the druid acf for a elemental instead of a animal. I'm wondering what the best way to complement this party would be?

Edit. None of them are optimized in the least. I would be the most optimized of the group.

[BowStreetRunner]

Sorcadin would be a good complement. Not sure what level you are targeting, but with Abjurant Champion you could easily build for defensive capability. Your other spell selections could be chosen to complement the cleric and duskblade casting without competing with them directly.

[Goaty14]

Crusader (ToB) is what you want. Even if you don't optimize like this forum would suggest you do, you simply can't go wrong.

[CaptainLettuce]

Crusader (ToB) is what you want. Even if you don't optimize like this forum would suggest you do, you simply can't go wrong.

Crusader, as said above would suit your needs just fine, and you could honestly take all twenty levels. Bonus points if you prestige into Ruby Knight Vindicator. Another single-classed, no frills option if available would be either the 3.5 OR Pathfinder Psychic Warriors. Both sources offer great gish-in-a-can chassis from the get go, which you can further customize at a moments notice to fit your party's needs. I'd strongly urge you to consider a Tashalatora build as well. Psicrystal shenanigans will make you extremely tanky, but you're just fine without them.

[Kelb_Panthera]

War Weaver. Make 'em not be so squishy.

More detailed; wizard or sorcerer into war Weaver with a BFC and party buffing focus. You make everybody tougher and more dangerous while dividing and disabling the enemy.

War Weaver is in heroes of battle, if ya didn't know

[liquidformat]

Or you could go with druid, there are a lot of options to choose from. Primary caster who stays out of the fray launching summons and buffing, bfc, blasting; or go more tank focusing on wild shaping.

[BlackOnyx]

Primary caster who stays out of the fray launching summons and buffing, bfc, blasting; or go more tank focusing on wild shaping.


Seconding the summoning idea (and/or minonmancy in general). Just about any caster with access to a couple of summoning spells (or even a wand) can do wonders for a team without a tank of its own.


Granted, summons and the like have their limitations, but they generally do a good job keeping the enemies tied up while you buff, debuff, and fire away.

[DeTess]

One thing you should also ask yourself is this: Do you want to be far moer optimized than the rest of the party? In my experience, this is something that can cause some issues, especially if there's a huge gulf between your power and that of the other two.

If I where you, I'd just pick up the straight crusader, which is pretty good, fills in this party's needs, but shouldn't be up to the ridiculous level where you make the rest of the party redundant, which a well optimized full spellcaster could do.

[Kelb_Panthera]

One thing you should also ask yourself is this: Do you want to be far moer optimized than the rest of the party? In my experience, this is something that can cause some issues, especially if there's a huge gulf between your power and that of the other two.

If I where you, I'd just pick up the straight crusader, which is pretty good, fills in this party's needs, but shouldn't be up to the ridiculous level where you make the rest of the party redundant, which a well optimized full spellcaster could do.

That's why I suggested a buff and BFC specialist. The only one it -might- annoy is the GM.


... Although...

There is a -slim- chance it'll get everyone else killed if you get killed by dumb luck and the GM has adjusted to the party's power with you boosting them that's suddenly unavailable.

[lylsyly]

I would have to go along with the Buff and BFC part. However, in order to avoid squishyness yourself I would trade 1 spell per day of each level and go UA Battle Sorcerer 6/War Weaver 5/Abjurant Champion 5/ then back to Sorcerer or another PRC that does not lose you a level of casting.

Battle Sorcerer give you prof in one martial weapon light or one handed weapon, casting in light armor, d8 HD, medium BAB. Other than Enlarge Spell and Combat Casting as prereqs and Extend Spell to increase the Duration of your buffs you can spend feats on whatever you desire. Since summons can be used for BFC you may want to spend the rest of your feats to improve your summons.

Just my 2 coppers
YMMV