Best low-level Batman?

[WarKitty]

What's the best "I'm prepared for everything!" class for a low to mid level game? We're starting at level 3 and going to probably level 10 or 12.

Edit: other than druid, I'm tired of them.

[gomipile]

Factotums are pretty good in that role. Also clerics and druids.

[reptilecobra13]

Well, I love factotums, but the traditional build for a "Batman" would be a wizard utilizing scrying spells to know what's coming and prep for it in advance.

[Zore]

Druid should be able to handle anything, especially if you pick a good AC and grab natural spell.

[WarKitty]

We're too low-level to have access to scrying, particularly since our DM likes to present time-sensitive quests where using your 4th level slots for scrying and then waiting to prepare new spells really isn't practical. I'd prefer to avoid the druid (I'm just tired of playing them).

[Tyrmatt]

Factotum is probably the most adaptable to any situation but I'm a sucker for playing Cleric. You can stock up on ridiculous spells to cover any situation and just spontaneously convert them to healing if need be.

Travel and Knowledge domains also add more skill and transport versatility.

[dextercorvia]

We're too low-level to have access to scrying, particularly since our DM likes to present time-sensitive quests where using your 4th level slots for scrying and then waiting to prepare new spells really isn't practical. I'd prefer to avoid the druid (I'm just tired of playing them).

The Oracle domain grants Scry as a 3rd level spell. I happen to be a fan of Cloistered ClericX/Divine Oracle1 for this with the Luck and Destiny domains for rerolls.

[Draz74]

Psion? Besides being a good solid Tier 2 class that doesn't have to deal with prepared casting and stuff, it's also able to Scry effectively starting at Level 3. (You might have to be a Seer specifically if you want that aspect.)

[Person_Man]

Well in general Batman builds rely on having a lot of resources, and then allocating those resources intelligently. So pretty much any Tier 1 and 2 caster or psionics build with careful spell or infusion or power selection.

You could always do something odd like Rogue 1/Totemist 2/Incarnate 4/Necrocarnate 5. That would give you a huge array of possibilities. And unlike most other builds, you get stronger as the day goes on and you harvest souls, not weaker as most other builds who use up resources.

[KellKheraptis]

Mystic Ranger with Sword of the Arcane Order and a Tome of Ancient Lore. Pwning E6 since Dragon published it :)

[Draz74]

Pwning E6 since Dragon published it :)

Actually, I think Mystic Ranger existed before E6 did.

[WarKitty]

Well in general Batman builds rely on having a lot of resources, and then allocating those resources intelligently. So pretty much any Tier 1 and 2 caster or psionics build with careful spell or infusion or power selection.

You could always do something odd like Rogue 1/Totemist 2/Incarnate 4/Necrocarnate 5. That would give you a huge array of possibilities. And unlike most other builds, you get stronger as the day goes on and you harvest souls, not weaker as most other builds who use up resources.

That might be interesting. I'm particularly interested in the lower levels where your casters really aren't that good. Say, a batman build for levels 3-8, following normal gold values for the level.

Edit: Tome of ancient lore looks...rather well beyond the budget at this level...

[Peregrine]

Factotum, of course, has Insanely Versatile and Useful in Any Situation (Ex) as a class feature. For those looking to batman wizards, I'd have to say the best low-level build is a focused specialist conjurer.

[true_shinken]

Edit: Tome of ancient lore looks...rather well beyond the budget at this level...

Regardless, it's hard to compete with a Sword'Shape Mystic Ranger at low levels. Full BAB, 6 skill points per level, casts arcane and divine spells. Oh, he also has a few class features.
I mean, do you want fries with that or what?

[Foryn Gilnith]

Sword'Shape Mystic Ranger

What is this, exactly?

[true_shinken]

What is this, exactly?

Mystic Ranger (Dragon Magazine 336) with the wildshape variant (Unearthed Arcana) and the Sword of Arcane Order feat (Champions of Valor).

[Urpriest]

Mystic Ranger (Dragon Magazine 336) with the wildshape variant (Unearthed Arcana) and the Sword of Arcane Order feat (Champions of Valor).

Bit of a sidetrack, but I've always been a little dubious that you can do Mystic Wildshape Ranger. Mystic Ranger is a variant that changes combat style progression. Wildshape Ranger is a variant that gives up combat style progression. It seems to me that if the balancing feature of your class is a slow combat style progression then giving it up for an ability that's canonically "worth" the normal progression is cheating a bit.

[true_shinken]

Bit of a sidetrack, but I've always been a little dubious that you can do Mystic Wildshape Ranger. Mystic Ranger is a variant that changes combat style progression. Wildshape Ranger is a variant that gives up combat style progression. It seems to me that if the balancing feature of your class is a slow combat style progression then giving it up for an ability that's canonically "worth" the normal progression is cheating a bit.

It makes sense. Wild Shape is just icing in the cake, though.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Mystic Ranger with Sword of the Arcane Order and a Tome of Ancient Lore. Pwning E6 since Dragon published it :)

What is the tome of Ancient Lore?

[Andion Isurand]

I'm a big fan of the Bardic Knack ACF in PH2.

For base class I'd have to go for Cloistered Cleric variant, Filidh variant wizard (Dragon 324) or the Halfling Wizard substitution level @ 5th level (Dragon 337)... all of which grant the Lore ability.

[Vemynal]

Another for Factotum here

[WarKitty]

Another for Factotum here

That seems to be the consensus.

[Draz74]

Factotum's not particularly strong at Level 1. It has a lot of skills and martial weapon proficiency, so that's something. And adding INT to a save or attack or damage roll twice per encounter is nice.

By Level 3, Factotum's got real tricks to play with. A spell per day is actually pretty potent when you can change which spell it is each day, with access to the whole Wizard list! Brains over Brawn means you're actually better at physical skills than the Rogue. Another Inspiration Point, another Feat ... the bonus to skill checks from Cunning Knowledge is starting to matter a little bit ...

[Zaq]

Incarnates are beautiful at low levels. Once you get more than two or three melds per day, you can really afford to have a good variety shaped, and just focus essentia into them as needed.

[gorfnab]

Mystic Ranger (Dragon Magazine 336) with the wildshape variant (Unearthed Arcana) and the Sword of Arcane Order feat (Champions of Valor).

Don't forget the Wild Cohort feat and the Arcane Hunter (CM) ACF. Trapfinding (DS) ACF is a potential option as well.

[Morph Bark]

Actually, I think Mystic Ranger existed before E6 did.

Which meant it was pwning it before it existed!

Bit of a sidetrack, but I've always been a little dubious that you can do Mystic Wildshape Ranger. Mystic Ranger is a variant that changes combat style progression. Wildshape Ranger is a variant that gives up combat style progression. It seems to me that if the balancing feature of your class is a slow combat style progression then giving it up for an ability that's canonically "worth" the normal progression is cheating a bit.

One can always increase the level at which the Ranger obtains the Wildshaping in accordance with the slowing of combat style progression.

I'm a big fan of the Bardic Knack ACF in PH2.

For base class I'd have to go for Cloistered Cleric variant, Filidh variant wizard (Dragon 324) or the Halfling Wizard substitution level @ 5th level (Dragon 337)... all of which grant the Lore ability.

Couldn't he go Cloistered Cleric... and then also take the Bardic Knack ACF, considering Cloistered Cleric grants Bardic Knowledge?

[Wings of Peace]

A necropolitan caster with levels in Tainted Scholar.

[BobVosh]

Factotum, or beguilier.