Gish help

[ChaosStar]

Alright, moving on to my Demon Bloodline(UA) Aasimar. I'm retooling him into a Duskblade/Sorcerer. Need help with build. GM uses Multiclass XP penalties. How many levels of each should I take? Should I just eat the 20% penalty? Need to get into Spellsword, Eldritch Knight, and Abjurant Champion. Scores are 14/14/15/17/15/18. Spending two feats to get Tressym familiar. Looking at it, probably won't get 9th level spells if I get a level of Eldritch Knight.

[ExLibrisMortis]

If you're using Duskblade, you're in it for Arcane Channeling, which takes three levels to get. After that, you only need two levels of sorcerer to qualify for Spellsword. By lucky chance, that also avoids any multiclassing penalty. So your build is duskblade 3/sorcerer 2/spellsword 1/abjurant champion 5/eldritch knight 9, although I would use Sacred Exorcist instead of Eldritch Knight. Enough base attack to hit +16, more casting. A few more class features, too, which can be nice.

[ChaosStar]

If you're using Duskblade, you're in it for Arcane Channeling, which takes three levels to get. After that, you only need two levels of sorcerer to qualify for Spellsword. By lucky chance, that also avoids any multiclassing penalty. So your build is duskblade 3/sorcerer 2/spellsword 1/abjurant champion 5/eldritch knight 9, although I would use Sacred Exorcist instead of Eldritch Knight. Enough base attack to hit +16, more casting. A few more class features, too, which can be nice.

Spellsword requires 2nd level arcane spells. Duskblades don't get those until 5th, Sorcerers don't get them until 4th. That's what has been vexing me.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Duskblade is a bad choice to combine with Sorcerer. With multiclass xp penalties, making a gish is going to be difficult to pull off if you don't use your race's favored class.

Don't use Eldritch Knight with a Sorcerer. If your DM is enough of a rules stickler to use multiclassing xp penalties, they're likely going to use the RAW spellcasting progression of EK. That means it doesn't grant more spells known, it also doesn't advance your spells known progression. So if you stop taking EK and get levels in a class with full Sorcerer spellcasting progression, you'll resume learning new spells known as if you didn't even have the EK levels at all. It permanently delays your knowledge of higher level spells. If you want a class like EK, use Knight Phantom (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050706a&page=4) instead.

My advice is to rearrange your stats, focus on just Int or just Cha plus physical stats, and use a spellcasting class that matches whichever you focus on. Aasimar get Paladin as a favored class, which includes the Tyranny, Freedom, and Slaughter variants (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladinVariantsFreedom SlaughterAndTyranny). A good aligned Paladin 2/ Sorcerer 4/ Spellsword 1/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Sacred Exorcist 8 is the gold standard Sorcerer gish build. That gets 9th level spells and a +16 BAB at 20th level, it gets Abjurant Champion as early as possible, it has great Cha synergy with Divine Grace, and with Arcane Preparation or a custom Runestaff you can use (Greater) Luminous Armor which benefits from Abjurant Champion's AC enhancement. You need to be good aligned for Sacred Exorcist and Luminous Armor, so you may as well use Paladin and be a more powerful character with Cha synergy.

If you can use the Half-Humans and Humanlike Races variant in the sidebar on Races of Destiny p150, go something like Human Paragon (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#humanParagon) 1/ Fighter 1/ Sorcerer 2/ Human Paragon 2/ Spellsword 1/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Sacred Exorcist 8. That also gets 9th level spells and a +16 BAB at 20th level, it also requires a good alignment for Sacred Exorcist, but not as extreme as Paladin.

Bloodline levels aren't good for any character ever, and bloodlines themselves aren't worth the loss of levels. If you were making a gestalt character it could be useful. If your DM rules that Bloodline levels don't increase ECL (which RAW they technically don't), you can basically gain them for free in which case everyone should get all the bloodlines. You don't necessarily need game mechanics to represent the flavor, but if you insist then there's better ways to go about it. The Fiendish Bloodline feat in Dragon Compendium is more useful than any bloodline levels. Gradually gaining the Half-Fiend template (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031010a) at 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th level and buying off each level of level-adjustment (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) as you gain them is a better choice as you'll be a lower ECL than the party, gain more xp per encounter, and eventually catch back up. On that note, use the Savage Progression Aasimar (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) and never spend a level on (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030824a) the +1 LA as you're not required to finish taking those template classes.

[ChaosStar]

Duskblade is a bad choice to combine with Sorcerer. With multiclass xp penalties, making a gish is going to be difficult to pull off if you don't use your race's favored class.

Don't use Eldritch Knight with a Sorcerer. If your DM is enough of a rules stickler to use multiclassing xp penalties, they're likely going to use the RAW spellcasting progression of EK. That means it doesn't grant more spells known, it also doesn't advance your spells known progression. So if you stop taking EK and get levels in a class with full Sorcerer spellcasting progression, you'll resume learning new spells known as if you didn't even have the EK levels at all. It permanently delays your knowledge of higher level spells. If you want a class like EK, use Knight Phantom (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050706a&page=4) instead.

My advice is to rearrange your stats, focus on just Int or just Cha plus physical stats, and use a spellcasting class that matches whichever you focus on. Aasimar get Paladin as a favored class, which includes the Tyranny, Freedom, and Slaughter variants (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#paladinVariantsFreedom SlaughterAndTyranny). A good aligned Paladin 2/ Sorcerer 4/ Spellsword 1/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Sacred Exorcist 8 is the gold standard Sorcerer gish build. That gets 9th level spells and a +16 BAB at 20th level, it gets Abjurant Champion as early as possible, it has great Cha synergy with Divine Grace, and with Arcane Preparation or a custom Runestaff you can use (Greater) Luminous Armor which benefits from Abjurant Champion's AC enhancement. You need to be good aligned for Sacred Exorcist and Luminous Armor, so you may as well use Paladin and be a more powerful character with Cha synergy.

If you can use the Half-Humans and Humanlike Races variant in the sidebar on Races of Destiny p150, go something like Human Paragon (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/racialParagonClasses.htm#humanParagon) 1/ Fighter 1/ Sorcerer 2/ Human Paragon 2/ Spellsword 1/ Abjurant Champion 5/ Sacred Exorcist 8. That also gets 9th level spells and a +16 BAB at 20th level, it also requires a good alignment for Sacred Exorcist, but not as extreme as Paladin.

Bloodline levels aren't good for any character ever, and bloodlines themselves aren't worth the loss of levels. If you were making a gestalt character it could be useful. If your DM rules that Bloodline levels don't increase ECL (which RAW they technically don't), you can basically gain them for free in which case everyone should get all the bloodlines. You don't necessarily need game mechanics to represent the flavor, but if you insist then there's better ways to go about it. The Fiendish Bloodline feat in Dragon Compendium is more useful than any bloodline levels. Gradually gaining the Half-Fiend template (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031010a) at 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th level and buying off each level of level-adjustment (https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/reducingLevelAdjustments.htm) as you gain them is a better choice as you'll be a lower ECL than the party, gain more xp per encounter, and eventually catch back up. On that note, use the Savage Progression Aasimar (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) and never spend a level on (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030824a) the +1 LA as you're not required to finish taking those template classes.

1. Can't take Paladin, I'm CN.
2. DM rules that Bloodline levels don't count against ECL, but spends XP.
3. DM isn't an idiot, just a stickler for XP penalties, so he reads Eldritch knight correctly.
4. I despise the Savage Species monster classes and will never use them.

[Gruftzwerg]

The sorcerer is just unneeded ballast. Imho the sole spell that a Duskbalde really wants is Shivering Touch. And for that a 2 lvl dip into Wyrm Wizard (or Recaster if you can play a Changeling) is enough to get it on your Duskblade spell-list.

I did a Shivering Touch optimized build (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?528541-Shivering-Tornado-of-Death-Arcane-Channeling-optimization)is you should be interested. I would recommend to get somehow Whirlwind, either as feat or as weapon enchantment for 3/day.

[Anthrowhale]

Maybe something like Duskblade 5/Heartfire Fanner 4/Eldritch Knight 1/Sublime Chord 1/Abjurant Champion 5/EK 4?

(This is using the Demon Bloodline to early qualify for HF.)

Requirements are rough.

You need feats: Negotiator, Skill Focus(Perform), Apprentice(Entertainer) by level 5

You need skills: K(arcana) 13 (DB/AC/EK), Listen 13 (HF), Diplomacy 10 (A(E)), Perform 10(A(E)), Profession 6 (cross-class), Spellcraft 6(DB/AC/EK) by level 10

So ~64 skill points through level 10. You pick up 42 through class levels so Int 14 is needed.

Edit: A potentially cleaner solution: Duskblade 5/Heartfire Fanner 4/Sublime Chord 1/Abjurant Champion 5/Spellsinger 4/<any full bab 1> Spells advance as a Sorcerer, BAB+17, requires Int 14 for skills and takes 4 feats. Able to cast any enchantment spell L8- on the Sorcerer, Bard, or Duskblade lists. Eligible for Snowflake Wardance.

[ChaosStar]

I'm more willing to drop Duskblade than Sorcerer. The character was supposed to be a straight Stalwart Battle Sorcerer, but DM says only 1 ACF per class.

[Anthrowhale]

I'm more willing to drop Duskblade than Sorcerer. The character was supposed to be a straight Stalwart Battle Sorcerer, but DM says only 1 ACF per class.

So just, Sorcerer 6/Eldritch Knight 2/Abjurant Champion 5/EK 7? A slow martial start, but otherwise a good gish for an Aasimar.

Or maybe: Crusader 1/Sorcerer 4/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Abjurant Champion 5/Jade Phoenix Mage 8 for a faster martial start and a slower end.

[ChaosStar]

So just, Sorcerer 6/Eldritch Knight 2/Abjurant Champion 5/EK 7? A slow martial start, but otherwise a good gish for an Aasimar.

Or maybe: Crusader 1/Sorcerer 4/Jade Phoenix Mage 2/Abjurant Champion 5/Jade Phoenix Mage 8 for a faster martial start and a slower end.

How are you get 3rd Level Arcane spells for Eldritch knight with Sorcerer 6?

Edit: Nvm. I misread and though Sorcerers didn't get 3rd Level Spells until Level 7.

[ExLibrisMortis]

Spellsword requires 2nd level arcane spells. Duskblades don't get those until 5th, Sorcerers don't get them until 4th. That's what has been vexing me.
There are a number of ways to increase the highest level of spell you can cast. Versatile Spellcaster is one, though it requires a second-level spell, which is most easily available through Heighten Spell. Eldritch Corruption is another one. That's a lot more evil, but that could be appropriate.

Granted, I agree with Biffoniacus and Gruftzwerg that duskblade/sorcerer is not a happy entry, especially with multiclassing XP penalties, but if you want to do it anyway, that's the earliest way to do it. The alternative is something like duskblade 3/sorcerer 4, which is a late entry that gets the same spellcasting and channeling, but loses one point of base attack, still hitting +17 at level 20.