Feats For Beguiler

[merfolkotpt]

Basically I am trying to figure out what feats to take and so I turn to the huge base of knowledge that is these fora. I am level 11, I want to be tricksy as possible, and i have 4 feats to select. At this point I am thinking Fortify Spell, Spell Focus Enchantment and Illusion, and arcan thesis. As a beguiler, of course, I get the silent and still spell feats for free. I also thought it might be worthwhile to get meta magic school focus for one of the two. thanks.

[Reel On, Love]

Screw Fortify Spell, and Arcane Thesis is Not For You.

Take Spell Focus(Enchantment) at 1; then at level 3, take Distract Assailant for your Advanced Learning spell... and the Unsettling Enchantment feat. What you get is a swift-action first-level spell that flatfoots the target (vs. you) on a failed save, possibly letting you get your surprise casting bonus... and gives them -2 AB/AC for a round whether or not they did make their save.

Take 1 level of Mindbender at 6. Then take Mindsight (Lords of Madness).

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Also take Shadow Weave User, from the FRCS. It boosts the Save DCs of te only spells you have access to.

[merfolkotpt]

Sorry should have specified this i am only allowed the use of the Complete Series, the Races of series, and the core + core II. So now FRCS for me.

[Riffington]

I've always been curious how good Improved Feint works in there.
On the one hand, you have no sneak attack.
On the other hand, you get to move, feint (presumbably your bluff is strong), and then cloaked cast...

[DiscipleofBob]

Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus (either Illusion or Enchantment, whichever you'd think you'd use more) are a must, unless there are some obscure feats which could do a better job of boosting those DC's. Just in case, take all of them. Being a Beguiler means getting the enemy to fail that save. Otherwise, you're just a skill monkey.

[Frosty]

A skill monkey with Solid Fog, but yes, you want enemies to fail saves.

[Meat Shield]

I'm probably going to be the only one to say this, but take Eschew Materials. Coupled with Still and Silent spells, you get to sit in the back of the tavern, and play a full caster while drinking out of you mug of ale. No one will ever know, and if I were DMing, you can bet than I would allow victims to be flat-footed if they have no clue you are a caster, let alone casting a spell.

[SolkaTruesilver]

I'm probably going to be the only one to say this, but take Eschew Materials. Coupled with Still and Silent spells, you get to sit in the back of the tavern, and play a full caster while drinking out of you mug of ale. No one will ever know, and if I were DMing, you can bet than I would allow victims to be flat-footed if they have no clue you are a caster, let alone casting a spell.

Wait..

There are DMs who would not consider the patrons flat-footed if you casted a still-silented-eschewed in the middle of the tavern?

[Meat Shield]

I would consider almost anyone flat-footed the first time you did the silent-still-echewed casting. And possibly everytime if you have no idea who is doing it. But there are DMs out there much less permissive than I. I just used that example because I like the thought of drinking from a giant stein as I make people's nightmares appear in their minds.

And speaking as a DM who has a beguiler in his campaign right now, let me say that I will never play a rogue again. Any time I want a sneaky type, I'm playing a beguiler. Hands down, that class is a blast. And crazy effective in combat as well due to the full casting (yes, unless I throw undead or other mindless critters at them).

[SolkaTruesilver]

I would consider almost anyone flat-footed the first time you did the silent-still-echewed casting. And possibly everytime if you have no idea who is doing it. But there are DMs out there much less permissive than I. I just used that example because I like the thought of drinking from a giant stein as I make people's nightmares appear in their minds.

And speaking as a DM who has a beguiler in his campaign right now, let me say that I will never play a rogue again. Any time I want a sneaky type, I'm playing a beguiler. Hands down, that class is a blast. And crazy effective in combat as well due to the full casting (yes, unless I throw undead or other mindless critters at them).

Amen! The sole Beguiler I played was a LG Qualinesti, a Spy in the service of the High Crown of Qualinost. It was a blast. But the DM was just un-imaginative...

starting gear (lvl 5) : Googles of minute-seeing (+5 to all search), Circlet of Disguise (I could hide those damn pointy ears, and transform into anything I damn want). I had so many ideas, like charming the capitain of the guards protecting the precious magic item we wanted to steal, and in a bar, trying to make him talk about the security system.

I know that, even with Charm person, he wouldn't talk. I don't care. I would silent/still cast "Detect Toughts" on the guy, so while he would shut his yap about the security, he would still think about it.

And finally, the guy who charmed him would.. disapear into nature Since he never existed to begin with.

[wormwood]

Actually, I hate to burst any bubbles but I'm pretty sure people know you're casting whether it's still/silent/eschewed or not. Unless you have something specific to cloak your casting, they can tell. I'm not sure HOW they can tell, but they can. Maybe it's the "my poop is stuck" look on your face or something.

[Frosty]

Actually, I hate to burst any bubbles but I'm pretty sure people know you're casting whether it's still/silent/eschewed or not. Unless you have something specific to cloak your casting, they can tell. I'm not sure HOW they can tell, but they can. Maybe it's the "my poop is stuck" look on your face or something.

Depends on the GM, and you'd better have some ranks in spellcraft or knowledge: arcana.

Also, use Sleight of Hand. If you use SoH while casting, others can't tell you're casting unless they succeed on a Spot chedk with DC = to your SoH result. This is detailed in the Rules Compendium.

[Meat Shield]

Actually, I hate to burst any bubbles but I'm pretty sure people know you're casting whether it's still/silent/eschewed or not. Unless you have something specific to cloak your casting, they can tell. I'm not sure HOW they can tell, but they can. Maybe it's the "my poop is stuck" look on your face or something.

A fair point. I would agree that you pretty much have to be staring at someone to make it work. But, you can do it in a crowded place or tavern while looking over a tankard or appraising something in a merchants stall or something else where there is plenty other things to distract the victims attention. Or do it in situations where you are expected to stare at the victim, say an actor on stage, or the king addressing his subjects, or the priest performing a ritual, or you looking over your cards at your opponent in a game of poker. Or even in the first round of combat, you are expected to be looking right at you opponent. An observer would see you and the fighter circling each other slowly, swords drawn, when suddenly the fighter drops to the ground, drooling slowly, and you sheath your sword and walk away without ever having touched him or giving any sign of ensorcelling him.

[wormwood]

Good call on the Sleight of Hand. For just hanging in the crowd and doing it, I'd likely require an easy Bluff check or something unless, as Meat Shield says, you've got a good reason for behaving that way.

[Chronicled]

Arcane Versatility from Races of the Dragon. Even Beguilers could run out of their best spells... well, they could. Not with this feat.

[Kurald Galain]

I've always been curious how good Improved Feint works in there.
On the one hand, you have no sneak attack.
On the other hand, you get to move, feint (presumbably your bluff is strong), and then cloaked cast...

It's a trap.

Cloaked casting is overrated, and certainly not worth spending a feat on. Spell Focus boosts the DC of your spells in all circumstances.

For other feats, Improved Initiative is great for any build relying on SOL spells. Arcane Disciple is surprisingly versatile.

[dspeyer]

If you're doing lots of stilled and silenced casting, you'll probably want metametamagic feats: rapid metamagic (requires 12 ranks in spellcraft, gets rid of the annoying full-round thing) and metamagic school specialist (drop the slot level by one within your focused school). I think they're both in complete mage.

You might also want to pick up enlarge spell and extend spell. They're handy.

For the biggest DC boost, take Vow of Nonviolence (as if beguilers ever resort to physical violence!) and good luck roleplaying it.

[Temp.]

Arcane Versatility from Races of the Dragon. Even Beguilers could run out of their best spells... well, they could. Not with this feat.

+1 for Versatile Spellcaster. Since there really aren't a whole lot of flashy Beguiler feats in your source list, this 'un looks like a good choice to me.