Min/Max Boards

Adamantine Weapons (DMG):  For +3kgp, you can make a weapon out of Adamantine.  The big advantage here is that it will ignore hardness less than 20, meaning you can hack your way out of various death traps, through Arcane Locked Doors, and generally out of trouble or bypass obstacles in unexpected ways.  It's advisable to use silence effects when doing this if you don't want to alert everything nearby, and remember that melee damage against objects is always halved (and ignored with piercing weapons, so don't bother with Adamantine Rapiers).

Armor Spikes (PHB):  Why are these mentioned?  Because you can put passive weapon enchantments on them for handy bonuses.  Consider Eager (+2 Initiative) and Warning (+5 Initiative).

Collapsable Pole (Dun):  It's a 12 foot collapsible pole.  Considering how many traps have 10' radius effects, this is just perfect.

Darkweave Clothing (ECS):  100gp gets you a +1 Circumstance bonus to hide.  Cheap and easy.

Forestwarden Shroud (RotW):  For 100gp, this item will negate any Move Silently and Tumble checks for moving through undergrowth and heavy undergrowth.  If you're going to be in forested terrain at some point, why not?

Leading Lining (CSc):  For 10gp you can lead line any pocket or container, thus preventing most divinations from piercing it.  No sense getting your cover blown by glowing when someone uses Arcane Sight.  It would only add half a pound to lead line a Handy Haversack so that no one even knows it's magical.  Ask your DM about whether a lead lined cloak can be used to hide you from magical detection as well.

Listening Cone (Dun):  This cheap little item effectively gives you +3 listen when trying to hear through a door or +10 when listening through stone walls.

Longspoon Thieves' Tools (CAd):  Disarm traps and open doors from 5' away.  Very handy for avoiding many sorts of traps.  It's 150 for the Masterwork version (which has a +2 bonus to negate the -2 penalty these things create).

Masterwork Tools (PHB):  At just 50gp for +2 per skill, these should never be overlooked.

Periscope (Dun):  This device gives you a +7 bonus to hide when peaking around corners.  Very handy.

Shadow Silk Armor (ToM):  Shadowsilk is a material that weighs significantly less than normal leather (a major concern for small low strength types) and grants an untyped +2 to Move Silently and Hide.  It also increases max dexterity bonuses and reduces spell failure in shadowy areas. Plus, it looks like deep black silk, so it's perfect for the ninja about town.  Shadowsilk Leather will run you 1750gp and has no spell failure in the dark along with a 4 pound weight, while Shadowsilk Padded (1500gp) provides a max dex of +10 for those folks with a dex of 28 or higher.

Silent Shoes (A&EG):  Just 20gp gives you a +1 to Move Silently from these shoes.

Spyglass (PHB):  It's rather expensive for a mundane item, but this lets you see things as though they were only 1/3 the distance away.  Consider that at 150' this means you're at -5 to spot enemies, and they're at -15 to spot you.  That's quite a bonus.

Skill Boosting Items in general:  These have a set formula for a generic bonus to a skill.  You'll probably want some for Hide, Move Silently, and Search.  I won't bother listing them all here, but they're a good idea to get in general... and remember, different bonus types stack.

Amulet of Fortune Prevailing (MiC):  For 5kgp, this item lets you reroll one save per day.  Simple, and it works.

Amulet of Second Chances (MiC):  Though expensive at 40kgp, this item completely undoes one round.  That's enough to avoid any ambush or trap.  Not bad. 

Aspect Mirror (CSc):  For 4kgp each these allow for both visual and auditory communication.  Just leave one with your party and keep one with you, and you can show your party everything you're seeing (or whisper to them, or use hand signs to communicate).  Your party can even scry on your location with their mirror (though if you're far enough away that that's necessary, you may be in trouble).

Belt of Battle (MiC):  For 12kgp, this item grants +2 to initiative and can give a few extra actions... enough to seriously change the opening rounds of any one fight.

Blindfold of True Darkness (MiC):  9kgp buys you an item that grants 30' Blindsight, but you can't use normal vision.  It's handy to keep around, but due to limited range it shouldn't be worn all the time.  Those folks who already have Mindsight might find it useful enough, though, especially if the DM has stated that Mindsight works on everything.

Boots of Bigstepping (MiC):  6kgp for the ability to teleport 60' twice per day isn't bad, though the Shadow Hands might be a better choice.

Boots of Sidestepping (Dun):  For 3kgp, these boots let you move 5' any time you would need to make a reflex save as an immediate action.  If this pulls you outside the area of effect, you simply dodge and don't even need to make a save.  It's basically immunity to many traps, in addition to a number of other effects (remember that if you dodge behind cover you'll gain cover bonuses).  Note the MiC version of these boots is twice the cost and not nearly as good.

Boots of Striding and Springing (DMG):  For 5.5kgp, these give +10' to your run speed and a +5 to jump.  Having a higher speed than the average monster can be quite useful if you find yourself in a bad spot, so these are likely worth it... especially if you're already a Swordsage with Tiger Claw maneuvers.

Charming Eye (Fiend Folio):  At 120kgp this thing is horribly overpriced, but at higher levels it's free... if you can get someone to summon a Sibriex (Fiendish Codex 1) they'll make up to three Fiendish grafts including this one free of charge.  You have to be evil to use it (if you're not it'll corrupt you towards evil) but it lets you see just fine in all forms of darkness, including magical darkness.  There's no range limit for this ability, which makes it one of VERY few ways of seeing more than about 200' in darkness, and since it works in magical darkness there's a few other interesting tricks you can use this for.  It also comes with a DC 14 charming gaze attack... unlikely to matter except if a critter rolls a 1 on the save, but hilarious when it works (remember any creature attacking you will have to make this save).

Chronocharm of the Laughing Rogue (MiC):  It's only 500gp for a once a day reroll on a failed disable device roll, even after seeing the trap go off.  Not bad at all, and plenty cheap.

Cloak of the Bat (DMG):  It's pricey at 26kgp, but this cloak does give a +5 bonus to Hide and the ability to turn into a (Tiny sized) bat and fly around.  That size thing is a big (heh) bonus when you're trying to be sneaky, and unless you have some innate ability to do it having the ability to fly is something you needed anyway.

Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis (Tome of Magic):  This amazing piece of equipment is valuable to any scout who doesn't already have the Dark template.  It simply grants the template for a short time per day for 10kgp or continuously for 22kgp.  Since the template includes movement speed, hide in plain sight, improved vision, and boosted stealth skills, it's an automatic choice.

Contact Medallion (MiC):  3kgp lets you telepathically contact anyone you know within one mile for a minute 3/day.  Should be enough to contact your party if you have no other means and need to.  Technically if you have Mindsight this might let you automatically see the location of that one person when you use the ability, if that matters.

Collar of Perpetual Attendance (Online Supplement):  Yes, this is an official item (google it!).  For 2kgp you get to cast Unseen Servant at will.  Consider springing traps, pulling levers, opening doors you've already unlocked, grabbing possibly dangerous items, and generally doing anything dangerous of that sort.

Deathward Armor Enchantment (MiC):  For a +1 Enchantment, this one is a great ablative defense.  Once per day (as an immediate action) you can ignore any death effect or negative energy effect.  It's cheap enough to be well worth it.

Diamond Eye Circlet (MiC):  2kgp gets you Detect Undead at will.  If you were using Lifesense, now everything but constructs is automatically detected for you.

Dimension Stride Boots (MiC):  These 2kgp boots are another teleport escape option... they'll send you 20 feet 5 times a day (or farther fewer times per day).  It's just one more great way to get out of grapples and such.

Eager Weapon Enchantment (MIC):  This +1 Enchantment lets you quickdraw the weapon, but more importantly grants a +2 to initiative.  That's always a big deal... but if you don't care about the quickdraw aspect, Warning is the higher priority.

Easy Travel Armor Enchantment (MiC):  For 1500gp this lets you hold a medium load as though it were light.  Many scout types have trouble carrying everything, and this helps a great deal... and it's quite cheap.

Energy Immunity Armor Enchantment (MiC):  This +2 bonus gives you a once a day immunity for one minute to any energy type of your choice as an immediate action.  It's a great way to prevent one attack from landing.

Enveloping Pit (MiC):  At only 3,600gp, this is one of the cheapest significant portable spaces around, and it's huge (it's 50 feet deep and 10 feet square).  The relic power is cute but not necessary at all.  What's great about this is that you can hide the entire party in the pit (make sure they won't have air problems if it will be a while) and sneak them past all kinds of obstacles safely.  Combine it with a Glove of Storing or Gloves of the Master Tactician so you can instantly pop it open when you need and now your party is where ever you wanted them to be.  You must be within one step of Lawful Evil to use it though.  Otherwise, you'll need to stick with a Portable Hole.

Fast Leg (Fiend Folio):  4kgp for an untyped 10' boost to movement speed is quite handy, and it gives a +5 to climb and jump as well.  It's a fiendish graft though... you have to be evil to use it, but you can get it for free from a Sibriex (FC1).

Fearsome Eye (Fiend Folio):  Like the Charming Eye above, this graft is so expensive that no one in their right mind would ever buy it... but using Planar Binding to get a Sibriex (FC1) will get it permanently for free.  It grants permanent See Invisibility along with a likely completely useless (at the level you'd be getting it) fear effect.  But hey, if you happen to be at such a high level and happen to fight something that's not immune to fear, having it get paralyzed when it rolls a 1 on the save while attacking you would be really funny.  Either way, if you didn't have Permanent Arcane Sight or similar already and are evil, you might as well score this.

Feathered Wings (Fiend Folio):  For 10kgp, these wings give a decent flight ability (Average, twice your ground speed).  You also get a free buffet ability.  It's a nice cheap way to get permanent flight, but you do have to be evil.  Like the other fiendish grafts, you can get it for free from a Sibriex.

Gloves of Object Reading (MiC): These 3kgp items are vastly underestimated and a must have.  If you're  sneaking into a dungeon and you loot a chest, whatever is in that chest likely belongs to someone important in that dungeon.  You can now ask questions like "what traps did he have to avoid when walking around the dungeon" and "what password did he use to get past the green door?"  Used right these can function as a map to the entire dungeon.

Golembane Scarab (DMG): 2500gp lets you detect golems as a standard action,  and you ignore Golem DR.  If you have Lifesight and the Diamond Eye Circlet, there's very little that you don't instantly know about.

Gwaeron's Boots (MiC):  At 6kgp, these boots give permanent pass without trace, and make you undetectable to scent.  Without Pass Without Trace, even a seriously stealthy character could still be tracked.

Hand of the Mage (DMG):  For just 900gp this item lets you use Mage Hand at will, letting you trigger traps, make sounds far away from yourself, and generally get creative.  Considering how cheap it is, you really should get this.

Hat of Anonymity (MiC):  Pricey at 12,500gp, this hat gives an untyped +5 bonus to hide (nice) and permanent nondetection (really nice!).

Headband of Conscious Effort (MiC):  2kgp lets you make a concentration check instead of a fort save 1/day.  Nice, but consider also the Novice Ring of the Diamond Mind, which could teach you the Moment of Perfect Mind Maneuver.

Helm of Telepathy (DMG):  Detect Thoughts at will is handy, and so is the telepathy this gives.  And hey, it's a way to throw Mindsight on a non magic character!  It's 27kgp, though.

Intelligent Items (DMG):  If you can get one, these can be surprisingly useful.  +12kgp gets you one with 120ft Blindsense and Darkvision, and it can observe for you while telepathically informing you of anything important.  Other useful available abilities include Detect Magic at will (3600gp) and Detect Thoughts at will (pricey at 44kgp).  If you're close to Neutral Evil, consider the Dagger of Denial from MiC for a handy example.

Iron Heart Vest (ToB):  The Novice version of this item costs just 3kgp.  If you can double it up (7500gp if your DM allows it) for two maneuvers, you could get Iron Heart Surge once per encounter... absolutely worthwhile.  No sense letting one debilitating shot take you out of the fight.

Linked Armor Enchantment (MiC):  Though expensive at 6kgp, and both you and a party member must wear such items, this lets you communicate with your party within 10 miles easily and silently.  If you lack telepathy, this is one way to get the  job done.

Lockpicking Ring (MiC):  This 3500gp item gives a +5 to Open Locks... but more importantly, it casts Knock once per day without need for UMD.  It's one of few ways certain scout classes can deal with Arcane Lock (Ninjas, for example).

Mask of the Tiger (MiC):  If you don't have Low Light Vision already, you want it.  This 2kgp item will get it, and you get the Track feat free (or +5 Survival if you had it already).

Medallion of Thoughts (DMG):  It's only 12kgp for a Helm of Telepathy without the actual Telepathy part.  Detect Thoughts is quite nice if you wanted to learn more about what's waiting for you in the dungeon, and if you already had telepathy some other way, this is much cheaper.

Ring of Anticipation (DoU):  +2 Competance to Spot and Listen for 3kgp is a rip off, until you notice the other effect... re-roll any initiative check.  That's a huge effective boost to initiative and shockingly cheap.

Ring of Chameleon Power (DMG):  At 12kgp this one's a little pricey, but +10 hide and unlimited Disguise Self is extremely handy.  Combined with Bluff this can let you seem to be on the side of your enemies, which can be quite useful...

Ring of Communication (MH):  You'll need at least two of these 2kgp items, but they let the wearers talk to each other with a range of up to a mile.  This is the only all day communication item like this, and they're quite cheap.

Ring of Darkhidden (MIC):  For just 2kgp this ring grants total invisibility to Darkvision.  Take a look at a lot of creatures designed to function at night or underground... many of them rely on Darkvision alone as their means of finding anything.  This ring makes them totally helpless against you, and is so good the rest of your party should probably have one too.  Plus, this way you don't have to worry about Darkvision creatures being able to spot you due to lack of shadows to hide in.  It's too cheap and too good not to take as soon as it becomes relevant unless you're always running around in daylight.

Ring of the Diamond Mind (ToB):  The novice version is just 3kgp and lets you have Moment of Perfect Mind, which when combined with a decent concentration score means one automatically passed will save per encounter.  If your DM lets you double up the ring (or if you just have one on each hand) you could get Mind over Body too to pass a fort save.  Even added into another ring for 4500gp this is absolutely worthwhile.

Ring of Mind Shielding (MiC):  For 8kgp this item hides your mind from many detection abilities.  Ask your DM if it protects you from Mindsight (if that's in play).   If so, this is absolutely amazing.

Ring of Mystic Defiance (MiC):  For 7500gp this item lets you take an immediate action to reduce the damage from any spell or spell like ability by 10, and lets you add up to +3 to fort saves against spells and spell like abilities if you have an item that boosts Int or Charisma that much. 

Ring of Nullification (ToM):  A great example of ablative defense, the Ring of Nullifcation costs just 3,200gp and nullifies up to 20 damage from an attack type of your choice.  "When I'm hit by a trap" is an obvious one to go with, and should insure you live through one otherwise nasty attack.

Ring of Spell Battle (MiC):  For just 12kgp this item automatically informs you of all spellcasting that occurs within 60 feet of you even if you can't see it, and lets you use Spellcraft to figure out what the spell is.  It's great for knowing if you're about to get attacked and what the capabilities of enemies are.  Plus, you can then counterspell one spell per day or redirect the target of any one spell... REALLY nasty.

Ritual of Shadow Walking (LoD):  Technically not a magic item, but close enough: this ritual costs 2k Xp and 500gp, and gives you the ability to travel through shadows at will up to 100ft.  You can also hide in shadows indefinitely.  It costs 2 temporary con damage and 2d4 damage to teleport, or 4 con and 3d4 damage per round to hide in the shadows.  Still, it can get you out of a jam, and if you happen to be binding Naberius (via a dip into Binder) you can heal the con damage immediately... or if you're immune to con damage anyway you can have all kinds of fun.

Sandals of the Light Step (MiC):  This is pretty expensive at 9kgp.  But you get +10' to movement speed, Pass Without Trace, and a complete lack of difficult terrain penalties.  Quite handy at times.

Scrolls of Uncertain Provenance (MiC):  These 8kgp scrolls require that you be within one step of Lawful Neutral, but at 8k they provide a +5 to all Knowledge checks just for possessing them.  They have relic powers too but those are less relevant.  These can be quite handy for making sure you actually know your enemy, and are an obvious choice if you took Knowledge Devotion.

Shadow Hands (ToB):  3kgp gets you one maneuver from the Shadow Hand school.  Shadow Jaunt is a great idea, though Cloak of Deception works too.  Even once per encounter it's a great escape, and it's very cheap.

Shadow Cloak (DoU):  This 5500gp cloak gives a +1 deflection bonus to AC, and more importantly three times per day you can either teleport 10' or gain concealment as an immediate action in response to an attack. Any sort of attack.  It's much like the Conjurer Wizard trick, and can let you completely spoil one attack against you.

Shirt of Wraith Stalking (MiC):  This 6kgp gives you a permanent hide from undead effect... and intelligent undead can't even make a save.  You're just impossible to see for them.

Silent Portal Disk (MoF):  For just 350gp you get a disk that can be attached to any door to make it totally silent.  Not bad for sneaking around.

Slicksilk Belt (MiC):  2kgp lets you use Escape Artist checks as a Move Action and gives a +10 boost once per day.  Usually that's enough to help get out of grapples safely, and if it fails you've still got a standard action.

Slippers of the Setting Sun (ToB):  3kgp for Counter Charge once per encounter?  Yes please.  It's cheap enough that adding it to any existing boots for 4.5kgp is absolutely worth it.  Consider adding it to the Steadfast Boots... now if something charges you while you've got a reach weapon, you can hit it with a readied attack, then hit it with an attack of opportunity, then redirect the creature away so it doesn't hit you at all.  Total cost for such boots?  Just 5,100gp.

Steadfast Boots (MiC):  These are quite cheap at 1,400gp, and as long as you're holding a two handed weapon you automatically count as having it readied against any charge against you.  Combined with Improved Trip or some other ability to spoil charges, and these boots will completely ruin one attack against you if your cover is blown.  They also help protect against tripping, bull rushing, and overrunning.

Stone Dragon Belt (ToB):  The novice version of this costs 3kgp, and gives you the Mountain Hammer maneuver once per encounter.  Ignoring hardness means smashing through anything.  This can open up all kinds of unexpected routes.

Third Eye Clarity (MiC):  For 3kgp this item lets you negate any of the following conditions: Stunned, Confused, Dazed, or Fascinated.  You can chose to use it after finding out you've failed the save for the effect.  Considering how much these conditions screw you, this is quite nice.

Third Eye Conceal (MiC):  At 120kgp, this is an extremely expensive item only appropriate for very high levels.  However, it protects against Mindsight (as well as all other forms of mental based detection), so in some games it may be the only way to do so.  Warlocks with CWI can craft it a bit earlier, as can Artificers.

Third Eye Freedom (MiC):  Cheap at just 2,600gp, this item gives you a round of Freedom of Movement once per day as an immediate action.  That's one guaranteed escape from a grapple or other binding effect.

Third Eye Sense (MiC):  24kgp is a steep price, but this item lets you at will see from any location either familiar to you or obvious to you (such as behind a door that you can currently see, around a corner, etc).  The uses for this are obvious... remember the usual penalties for spotting go away if you can see from right next to the target!  This is also very handy for archers, who otherwise have trouble seeing targets from far away.

Torc of Displacement (MiC):  This immediate action item runs at just 2kgp and lets you gain a 20-40% miss chance for one round when you need it, depending on the number of charges used (it has 3 per day).

Trackless Boots (DoU)):  These boots are just 1kgp and while wearing them scent can't detect you, plus people tracking you are at a -5 to do so.  This is one nice way to deal with patrol dogs and such if your DM uses them against you, and is especially nice if Darkstalker isn't available to you.

Wand of Knock (DMG):  For 4,500gp this item means Arcane Lock doesn't outright screw you.  It's critical for Rogues, and useful for others.

Warning (MiC):  This +1 enchantment gives +5 initiative.  Simple, cheap, effective.  Don't leave home without it.

Hide and Move Silently:  As covered above, these are basic skills that you absolutely want high enough to be 11 above the Spot/Listen bonus of any creature you're trying to evade.  You can, however, factor in the -1 penalty per 10 feet and the -5 distraction penalty into these calculations.  It's not hard to get these skills up to the point where it's just not an issue... but make sure you get them high enough.  Remember that Darkstalker means these skills apply to almost every detection attempt that will occur.   Remember also that you don't even need to make Hide checks if you have total concealment (a plus for the Shadow template) and that you can hide other people in your party at a -30 penalty or use a teamwork benefit to hide your party for an ambush.  Also, remember that invisibility gives a +20 to moving hide checks and a +40 to hide checks when not moving.  Also, get Hide in Plain Sight if you can... a variety of options can be found in this handbook.  And remember the sniping rule if you're an archer.

Spot and Listen:  The opposite of Hide and Move Silently, these skills are the standard way of starting encounters and locating enemies.  Having them is useful, but don't rely on them... it's very hard to beat someone who focuses on hide at that game, and a variety of abilities (like Silence, Invisibility, etc) negate these skills entirely.  As these skills are Wisdom based, few stealthers are actually particularly good in them.  Note however that you need 8 ranks in both of these to get nifty teamwork benefits, and also note that Listen is quite handy for checking if something nasty is on the other side of a door.

Search:  If you plan on not just springing every trap, pump this skill.  Note that you'll need items to boost this skill to actually find traps with it, as traps tend to have VERY high search DCs.   You'll need 8 ranks for the Door Procedures teamwork benefit, which is something you'll want to have.

Knowledge Arcana, The Planes, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature, Religion:  These skills let you identify monsters, which helps you know how likely they are to detect you.  That alone is critical.  However, it takes a lot of skill points to get really good at this, and may be too much for you to reasonably spend.  If you do pump your knowledge skills, the Knowledge Devotion feat is going to be a very obvious choice.  Note that the Educated feat gives you all of these as class skills if you need.

Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Forgery:  Sometimes, scouting is less about being undetectable and more about being unnoticed.  A good bluff roll can remove the need for stealth entirely... just walk on in, as you were absolutely invited (just check the invitation!).  This will only apply to certain kinds of games though, and the strengths of traditional stealth (being invisible, great detection) don't really apply here, so this is in some ways a completely different role that could be handled by another party member.  With that said, Bluff can let you hide while observed and Sense Motive might let you notice if an enemy has detected you but is trying to hide that fact.

Use Magic Device:  Arcane Lock will completely stop any scout that can't cast Knock, phase through the door, or smash the door down (the latter is rather unstealthy, and the middle one is a high level ability).  And it's not the only example where magic is going to be by far the easiest way to deal with a situation.  As such, the ability to use a few wands can be very helpful for Stealth types that lack magic of their own.  However, note that some games have very limited magic item availability... check in advance before dumping a ton of points into this skill.

Collector of Stories:  This trick automatically gives you a +5 to learn a creature's special powers or vulnerabilities, which is exactly what you want as a scout.  Check with your DM to see if it works with Knowledge Devotion.

Easy Escape:  If you don't have an ability like Shadow Jaunt to get out of grapples, Easy Escape will be a tremendous help.

Escape Attack:  Take Easy Escape if you're doing this.  It works great with sneak attackers to land one attack against them while they're flat footed.  Between this and your party gang jumping the hapless attacker, you should be able to take them out.

Teamwork Benefits are a handy way to work with your party, and they generally cost you very little (a few skill ranks you probably already had).  They're found in Heroes of Battle, Dungeonscape, PHB2, and DMG 2.

Awareness:  Requires 12 Listen and Spot for the leader, 2 Listen or Spot for team members.  Everybody on the team gets a +2 Circumstance to Listen and Spot if any other team member is within 30 feet.  It's not much, but it's easy to get.

Cunning Ambush:  Requires 8 Hide and Listen for the leader, 1 Hide for the members.  Allows the team leader to make hide checks for the members of the team (though this uses their dex bonus and armor check penalty instead of the leader's), though it does take 10 minutes per team member.  The fluff for this even suggests pulling monsters ala MMORPGs.  This isn't something for use every day, but it's pretty cool.  There's also an improved version that requires a few more skill ranks but lets your camouflaged party take full actions instead of standard actions in the surprise round.

Door Procedures:  Requires 8 Search and Listen ranks for the leader, 1 rank in Listen or Search for the team members.  This gives +1 to Listen and Search to the leader (you) for every team member within 10 feet to any check at a door, and you can take 20 in half the time.  It's a nice way to figure out what's on the other side of the door before opening it, and it makes it much easier to search for traps.  Really, you might as well get this if you had the skills to use it.

Infiltration:  Requires 8 ranks of Hide and Move Silently, and the rest of your party needs 1 rank of Hide or Move Silently.  The result is that your whole team can move at full speed with no penalty, which is quite useful indeed.  Plus, the team can always see other team members regardless of anything other than total concealment (including invisibility!).  You do need to stay visible to the team for the benefit to continue.  Works quite well with Exemplar/Marshal types, allowing the entire party to stay right together without alerting enemies of their presence.  Without Darkstalker, however, they can still be spotted... and I doubt the entire team will have that feat unless you're all intentionally going for a stealth theme.

Scouting:  Requires 8 ranks of Listen and Spot for the leader, and each team member needs 1 rank in Listen and Spot or Alertness.  This lets the entire team make a free spot check and free listen check using the lowest spot/listen modifier of the group +1 for every member of the group every round.  This works as an active Spot or Listen attempt and gives you an extra chance to locate enemies.

Search Team:  Requires 5 ranks Search and Trapsense +1, team members need a rank of Search.  As a full round action, the team leader (you) can apply your search check result to every square searched by a team member... and they can aid another to boost that check.  It's unclear, though, whether your trapfinding ability works with this, so ask your DM.  Still, it's a nice way to speed up searching.

Craft Wonderous Item:  There are many very nice magic items that help with being a scout (as well as with any other role you might be filling). Classes like Factotums, Warlocks and Beguilers can take advantage of this with CWI, which gets them the items they need at half price.  This feat is campaign dependent though... don't take it if items are freely available or if time to craft them isn't.  Also in this category is Craft Wand (mostly for Factotums and Warlocks).  Remember that when making custom items you can restrict the items to only work for people like you to discount the cost (but it will be worth less if you want to sell it later).  If you do this as a Factotum, note that Distill Joy is a standard action for you to cast (BoED, normally it's a day) and might be worth the little bit of extra exp.

Darkstalker:  This is a critical feat for any stealth character. It's found in Lords of Madness and it lets you use Hide/Move Silently normally against creatures with Scent, Tremorsense, Blindsense, and Blindsight. Without it, these things autodetect you... but most creatures with those abilities have terrible Spot scores (their listen scores might be okay) so with this feat they'll never find you.  Take this feat. 

Dumb Luck (CSc):  This feat lets you spend a luck reroll (which it gives you one of) to turn a natural 1 on a save into a natural 20.  It's obviously handy, and better if you took other luck feats too.

Item Familiar:  Located in Unearthed Arcana, this feat gives you a host of benefits including the ability to effectively double your ranks in a few skills.  If you can take it, the boost from this means you never have to buy another hide/move silently boosting item again, and it might even get your Spot score high enough to defeat enemy hide scores easily as well.  There's a host of other available benefits.  If you do take, make sure it's an item that's hard to lose... my favorite is a Dwarvencraft Quality Obdurium Quickrazor, since that stays out of line of sight (making it impossible to target) except when you whip it out, and with a hardness of 32 and +2 to saves it's really hard to destroy.  Another option is armor with the 500gp Durable quality from Dungeonscape... remember that armor can't be sundered, and Durable removes the other primary way of killing it.  Blueshine from MiC works too, for 1500gp, but also includes a +2 hide bonus.  If you do this, consider adding in Restful for another 500gp so you never take it off either.

Knowledge Devotion (CCh):  Not really a scouting feat, but it deserves mention as a great feat for anyone who pumps their knowledge skills.  It's especially good for archers, but it's definitely solid in general.  Who can say to +5 to hit and damage with every attack (which is what you'll get eventually)?

Lifesight:  From Libris Mortis, this feat requires being undead but makes every living thing glow brightly in your vision.  This means you're going to see enemies moving around corners and nothing can hide from you if it has a heartbeat.  If Libris Mortis is in play, you NEED this feat which means you need to be undead.  Luckily Necropolitan is from that same book, so if this feat is in play, you can get around it safely.  As an added benefit, it's one of very few ways to tell if there's an undead critter disguised as though he's alive easily, so if you see something that isn't a clanking automaton or moving statue and it's not glowing, instruct the Cleric to nuke it (unless you're a Factotum, in which case nuke it yourself).

Lucky Fingers:  Gain a luck reroll, and you can spend one to reroll a failed disable device check (or open lock or sleight of hand).  In trap heavy campaigns this is very handy.

Mindsight (LoM):  This feat is amazing but what it does is somewhat unclear.  It says it simply detects anything with an Int score within range of your telepathy ability, and gives you their Int score as well as their type.  Obviously, this is amazing, and by RAW it works on absolutely everything regardless of intervening terrain (there are a tiny subset of abilities that might counter this) or any protections they may have that don't specify immunity to mental based detection.  However, note that the same book says that Illithids hate undead in part because their psychic detection abilities can't find undead, which suggests this feat was not intended to work on creatures that are immune to Mind Affecting abilities.  Discuss with your DM in advance so you know what's going on.  Either way, it's an amazing feat, though it does require telepathy of course (Mindbender 1 is the easiest way to get this).  If it doesn't get through mental immunity, being a Necropolitan or Ghost is that much better, and Mindsight will stop this.  If it does, congratulations, you can now see everything no matter what.  Still, if you have the option, take this feat.

Obtain Familiar:  This feat gets much better for classes like Beguilers who actually had a lot of skills, as the familiar's usual skill usage abilities become much more potent.  Losing a familiar hurts so sending it out to scout alone is a bad plan, but it can use aid another to boost any skill you want by 2 while staying safely with you.  Also, the free Alertness could be handy.  Consider Improved Familiar feat as well if you take this, or if not get a Hummingbird familiar for +4 initiative.

Yondalla's Sense:  It's Halfling only, but this feat lets you add your Wisdom bonus to your initiative.  If you're a Cleric, Ninja, or Monk this one could be very nice indeed.

Tleilaxu_Ghola
05-15-07, 12:45 AM
Case: 4 party members, starting level 10. Alternative Magic heavily encouraged.

Party Name: Tactical Supremists

Party Make Up:

Human Kineticist 6/Anarchic Initiate 4
Human Crusader 10
Human Paladin2/Crusader 8
Human Rogue 3/Swordsage 7


Build Specifics
1.
Feats:
1. Overchannel, (Psi-crystal Affinity), (Burrowing Power)
3. Empower Power
5. Psionic Meditation
6. Metapower (empower)
9. EK (Schism)

This guy fills the DPR role. With Dual Empowered Chaotic Surged Energy Channels (using solicit psicrystal) this guy is a veritable avatar of pain. He can put out up to 36d6+36 damage per round to a single target (18d6 to a secondary) or 18d6 to 2 targets and 9d6 to 2 secondary targets. Add chaotic surge on top of that for the possibility to either maximize or empower those dice.

2.
Feats:
1. Combat Reflexes, EWP Spiked Chain
3. Standstill
6. Extra Granted Maneuver
9. Hold the Line

Role: Two roles in one: Damage Mitigation and Damage Removal. The build is geared for tanking, but has moderate healing capabilities. At the current level he'll be able to heal 3d6+10 damage with a melee attack to anyone within a certain radius. Damage mitigation is performed by controlling the battle field via AoOs.

3: Identical to #2

4.
Feats:
1. Adaptive Style, (Combat Reflexes)
3. Vexing Flanker
6. Shadow Blade
9. TWF

Role: Utility and DPR. This guy can have the essential rogue skills (8+int per level for 3 levels, and 6+int for the remainder). He's geared for flanking, which means he just tumbles into place and then lays down his TWF +4d6 sneak attacks at dandy +4 bonus. He also gets dex to damage.

Party Tricks & Tactics
Basically this group gets into formation and then plows through the enemy lines. Marching essential order is:

C-P-C

Or some varient thereof. The psion sits in the intersection of the radius of the two spiked chains wielded by the two crusaders. This ensures that anyone trying to charge him will be hit by a couple AoOs and a standstill before they can even think about hitting him. Thicket of blades is the main method of generating AoOs (that and holding the line). Rogue/Swordsage can be anywhere in the vicinity. With a high dexterity and wisdom score, he's going to have a pretty decent AC. He waits until one of the tanks engages and then tumbles in for the flanking. The psion will usually put up a telekentic buffer (slowing all movement to 50% in a 15' radius), then follows up the next round with an energy current + solicit psi-crystal. If necessary, he'll start up a 2nd energy current in the third round. At this point the enemies will probably want to kill the psion who is dishing out INSANE damage. That's when the tanks start turtling up around the psion, warding off any melee chargers. The psion is able to protect himself from magical assault (and the whole party) via intellect fortress (which cuts incoming damage effects in half) or via damp power (which minimizes all incoming damage effects). Both are immediate cast powers. If faced with ranged threat, the psion can punch out some serious DPR with energy missile at medium range (up to 5 targets, and about 18d6+18 dmg to each for the low cost of 12 pp).

Analysis:
This party is what I would call a balance between specialization and redundancy. There are two identical builds in the party, covering what I believe to be the most critical roles: damage mitigation and damage removal. These guys should be decked out in heavy armor and their feats/class abilities make melee damage a laughable matter. Their primary concern is non-magical ranged damage. The only way the party can deal with his is via the psion's magical ranged damage attacks. Both crusaders are required to fill the healing role effectively. If both guys are busting off healing strikes every round, the party's in pretty good shape. At 11th level they'll be able to do area effect healing with a strike. The trick to getting as many heals per encounter as possible is to ready all your healing maneuvers (2 at this level). At 11th level half their deck will be healing maneuvers. So these guys will be rolling off heals at least once, if not twice per round. Note, that they're still dealing damage while healing! AoOs are another source of damage for these bad-boys. I strongly recommend giving them the best possible weapons.

This psion is the most critical player in the party. He is the primary source of damage and pretty much the sole source of ranged attacks. He's also the weakest member of the party in terms of HP and armor. For this reason he needs to be flanked by his tank comrades at all times. The psion is not hopeless by himself, and has a fairly decent method of damage mitigation in the form of the famous share pain + vigor trick. He also has a number of escape mechanisms and spell damage mitigation tricks available to him, as mentioned earlier.

The rogue is kind of an odd-ball here. He requires mobility, while the rest of the party is content in turtling up and moving slow. He has the ability to find and disable traps, as well as deal decent melee damage. I'd say this is the weakest, most non-essential member of the party.



Note on party wealth: It's common to divide party wealth equally. But consider this: the psion only needs +intellect and +constitution gear. He should receive less loot than the tanks who need a lot of money to properly gear their weapons and such.

tsuyoshikentsu
05-15-07, 01:35 AM
Yea, that would be totally awesome. Anyone really bored this summer?

Ask Surreal.

On topic:

Case: Core 3, Four-Person Party

Party Make Up:
Gnome Druid 20
Dwarf Cleric 20
Grey Elf Rogue 1/Wizard 19
Dwarf Barbarian 20



Build Specifics
1. Gnome Druid 20 -- Augment Summoning and Natural Spell; metamagics after that. You're off-DPR, off-Damage Removal, off-Utility. Prepare all cure spells, except for the odd flamestrike or goodberry. (9th levels don't count.) Your job is to stay wild shaped -- preferably as a flying creature -- cast summons, and mix it up with your animal companion. You may want to throw some battlefield control in there, too -- it depends on how quickly you go through your Cleric's spells.
2. Dwarf Cleric 20 -- Healing and Travel domains. You're Damage Removal. Yeah, yeah, divine power, blah blah blah. NO ONE is better at healing than you, and you've got the FoM to get out of that grapple and get to them. Just because you're a good fighter doesn't mean you're not a better band-aid. Besides -- cures are spontaneous. No one will care if you prepare divine power in that slot.
3. Grey Elf Rogue 1/Wizard 19 -- UTILITY up the wazoo. Keep your Rogue skills up through your stupid amount of bonus skill points; the main reason you took that level is trapfinding. Between battlefield control and polymorphing into a scout form, you'll sneak better than a Rogue and not come out that far behind a Sorcerer in casting.
4. Dwarf Barbarian 20 -- Damage Mitigation, DPR. Yeah, yeah, the Druid can shapeshift, the Cleric can DP, the Wizard has spells. You're not quite as squishy in an antimagic field, plus you can do this all day every day. With two healers and the Druid's companion and summons to help you out, you'll be fine out there.

Dwarf is pretty much the optimal race here when you can hire a herald; the Wizard obviously wants grey elf, though. I just realized that Gnome is better for Druid past level 5; when wild shaping, your penalty goes away totally.


Party Tricks & Tactics
The Druid spends most of their time in birdie form to summon things, while their animal companion off-tanks. The Wizard's in the back, battlefield controlling it up, while the Barbarian keeps things from running over to hit the casters. The Cleric is dispensing band-aids as needed. Ideally, the Druid should fly just above the Cleric so as to be unreachable by Medium reach from the ground, but close enough to heal the Cleric if need be.

Off the battlefield, the Wizard finds traps and disarms them. (If not, one of the three casters blows them up, or sets them off with a summon.)

Analysis
The Druid is straight-up expendable; at higher levels, the Barbarian is too. The problems start when you lose any two members; the Cleric and the Wizard are too squishy by themselves to defend against anything that could take out tow party members.

The Thing in the Night
05-15-07, 03:30 PM
Case:10th level, forgotten realms, limited splat (completes, phb2)

Party Make Up:

1.Damage Migation: Human Druid 10
2.Damage Removal: Human Cleric 10 of Red Knight
3.Skills: Human Rogue7/Fighter1/Sorcerer1/Marshal1
4.DPR: Human Barbarian1/Fighter4/Frenzied Berzerker4/Exotic Weapon Master1

Build Specifics:

1. Feats
Spell Focus:Conjuration
Augment Summoning
Greenbound Summoning
Natural Spell
Empower Spell

Damage migation is attained by a combination of Druid battlefield control spells (entangle, spike stones, all of thorns, etc), and by the summoning of creatures. The summons migate damage in several ways: they present additional targets to soak up damage (and are also resilient, with DR, fast healing, and immunity to mind affecting), and by limiting the movement of enemies and presenting opportunities for AoO's. Note that a wildshaping druid is also a decent source of DPR, as are the summoned creatures themselves. The druid also serves as a source of damage removal, with the Vigor line of spells for OoC healing.

2.Feats
Weapon Focus:Longsword (war)
Extend Spell (planning)
Sacred Healing
Extra Turning
Peristant Spell
Divine Metamagic: Persistant Spell
Extra Turning

This standard metabuffing cleric serves both as damage per round and damage removal. With nightsticks, it should be able to persist a few core buffs and use remaining turning attempts for Sacred Healing.

3.Feats
Dodge
Mobility
Combat Expertise
Improved Trip
Elusive Target
EWP:Spiked Chain (fighter)
Motivate Strength (marshal aura)

This character fulfills both the Skills role, and provides DPR. Sorcerer spells known are True Strike and Enlarge person. The second provides extensive reach, used to set up flanking situations with any of the Druid's summons. The marshal aura improves trip attacks of the rogue, as well as any trip attacks provided by the summons (another source of Damage Migation).

4.Feats
EWP:Bastard Sword
Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword
Intimidating Rage
Destructive Rage
Power Attack
Cleave
Improved Sunder
Shock Trooper
Uncanny Blow(exotic weapon master)

Standard melee DPR.

Party Tricks and Tactics:

As stated above, the Druid lays down battlefield control with snares, summons, or both. The Rogue then enlarges, moves to a suitable position, and begins flanking, tripping if desired. If controling spells are used, the Berzerker remains near the rogue (the most vulnerable member), and uses throwing weapons, ready to rage if anything breaks free of the snares. If summons are used to control, the berzerker picks a target and charges.

Analysis:

Many party members are capable of fulfilling multiple roles, easing the strain if one is incapacitated. This pary is weak with regards to range, posessing nothing extrordinary other than raged weapons and spells.

amalcon
05-15-07, 09:04 PM
Case: 4 party members, level 10. Core (PHB+DMG) only.

Party Make Up:
1. Halfling Rogue 4/Ranger 6
2. Human Barbarian 1/Diviner 5/Eldritch Knight 4
3. Human Cleric 10
4. Human Bard 10

Build Specifics
1. Rogue 1/Ranger 1-2/Rogue 2/Ranger 3-4/Rogue 3/Ranger 5-6/Rogue 4
Feats:

Iron Will
Weapon Finesse
Mounted Combat
Improved Initiative

Key Class Features:

Trapfinding
Two Weapon combat style
Sneak Attack
Favored Enemy: Constructs (+4), Undead (+2)

Key skills: Search, Disable Device, Hide, Move Silently, Use Magic Device, Ride, Survival

This guy fills two main roles. First, he's a damage monkey. A two weapon fighting, sneak attacking damage monkey, with favored enemies that still let you fight two types of normally immune enemies. Constructs were selected for the +4 basically because they're most common aside from undead, which can be turned. Elementals will still be a problem; plants and oozes are pretty rare.

Why Mounted Combat? Basically, it is part of damage prevention. This guy should be able to move out of combat quickly if necessary (letting the other fighters take the heat for a while). A halfling on a riding dog companion, who's shared longstrider with said companion, should be able to outrun most things where necessary,

2. Barbarian 1/Diviner 5/Eldritch Knight 4
Feats:

Power Attack
Cleave
Combat Reflexes
Combat Expertise
Improved Trip

Key class features:

Fast Movement
Banned School: Enchantment


This guy is huge in the utility department with his divination spells, and is also a halfway decent tank. His real key benefit, however, is clearly battlefield control. Improved Trip + Spiked Chain = good; spells = better. He is also capable of dealing some good damage with power attack + 2-handed weapon. Nominally, he's pretty frail; be sure to devote significant spells to not dying. Vampiric Touch is great for this; one little necromancy spell does damage, damage prevention, and healing all at once.

3. Cleric 10
Feats:

Scribe Scroll
Craft Magical Arms and Armor
Craft Wondrous Item
Craft Wand
Power Attack

Key class features:

Domains: Travel, Magic
Turn Undead


This is the Cleric. Of course you need a Cleric in core. There's no other efficient way to get healing. He's also got a bunch of item creation feats. Notice how every character has the ability to cast arcane spells (UMD, Magic domain, or being a wizard)? And how every character but the Wizard can cast divine spells? Yeah. This should keep everyone stocked for emergencies. Really, items that anyone can use mean the best redundancy you could ask for.

This Cleric doesn't actually do that much *in* combat. He can be really powerful for a short time, like any Cleric can, and Power Attack exists to allow this strategy. In typical combats, however, the Cleric should focus on buffs, battlefield control, and healing. He's more of an item-based support character.

4. Bard 10
Feats:

Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Rapid Shot
Far Shot
Manyshot

Key class features:

Bardic Music
Bardic spellcasting

Key skills: Social skills, Use Magic Device

A lot of people will question this one, but few people can boost the efficiency of the whole party quite like a Bard. There are lots of amazing Bard spells that just don't see play in a more standard party: Sculpt Sound, Glibness, among others.

I've always been partial to archer-bards myself.

Party Tricks & Tactics
This party has a few modes of combat. For easy combats, they can just go in swinging -- everyone has a reasonable spell-light combat style. The interesting ones follow:
- Vs. a single tough enemy -- Heavy damage time! Everyone uses their primary offensive combat style (Rogue: Fight; Cleric/Wizard: Begin with offensive spells, then fight; Bard: Buff, including song, then shoot)
- Vs. a relatively homogeneous group -- Battlefield control; isolate, then kill. Cleric and Wizard uses debuff and battlefield control spells until the enemy has lost sufficient capacity; Bard buffs, then shoots. Rogue stays near the others, flanks with companion if necessary, and just tries to hold the gap until the spells have turned the battle.
- Vs. a group with wildly varying power levels -- Mixture. Cleric does nova and flanks for Rogue to take out the greatest threat, Wizard uses debuff and battlefield control spells, Bard buffs.

A very nice thing about this group is that none of them will be competing over the same weapons. The Cleric and Wizard both use two-handers, but the Wizard specifically uses a spiked chain. The Rogue is not only small, but uses finesse weapons. The Bard uses a bow.

Analysis:
This party is actually very robust in terms of party member loss. The worst to lose is probably the Cleric, as healing will be very expensive until he can be raised. One significant benefit is that every character except the Rogue has an indirect combat style, which means that if they're in trouble, they can just read a scroll of invisibility and fall back on the style that keeps them hidden.

The trick to preventing a TPK is to keep in mind that everyone is very mobile. The Rogue is mounted, and everyone else has travelling spells (with the Bard worst off, probably stuck balancing Expeditious Retreat and Shadow Conjuration: Phantom Steed). Do not hesitate to run away if a fight is going south.

TalinXT
05-17-07, 09:46 PM
Case: Single Class (almost) Party with access to Core + Completes + PHB2+ Spell Compendium


Party Make Up: The Guild lvl17

1. Human Enchanter 3/Master Specialist10/Mindbender1/Enchanter3
2. Elven Abjurer3/Master Specialist10/Iinitiate of the Seven Fold Veil 4
3. Gnome Illusionist 3/Master Specialist 10/Illusionist4
4. Dwarf Conjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Conjurer4



Build Specifics:

1. Human Enchanter 3/Master Specialist10/Mindbender1/Enchanter3

Forbidden Schools:Evocation, Divination

1. Spell Focus (Enchantment)
H. Arcane Disciple (Healing)
3. Arcane Disciple (Renewal)
6. Extend Spell
9. Craft Wand
12. Spontaneous Healer
15. Empower Spell
16B. Metamagic Spell Trigger

Harm Prevention: How does one prevent harm? by not getting themselves harmed by enemies. And how does one prevent that to the absolute? By having no enemies. Enchanters can accomplish this by forcing enemies into states and actiosn that prevent and hinder them from harmign others. Let us not also forget that the Enchantment also has a umber of buffs that and battlefield control spells that can prevent damage from coming from an opponent.

Enemy Elimination: If you have enemies, make them friends. The simplest adn most devastating way to defeat an opponent is to make him an enemy of you enemies. This character has high enough spell dc's to make ti stick and stick for a logn time. I like that thog devours kittens, thog works for us now we'll let him deal with the lich after we brign his laughing ass back to the ground. Enchanters are full of Save-or-dies making them jsut as effective at this role as any heavy damage dealer.

Recovery: The nice thing about enchanters is that once they cast one ro two offensive spells they can mostly sit back and let there allies finish off whoever is not converted/disabled. Of course theres also the problem of midn afefcting spells not touching many opponents, this is where your other role comes into play. Normally one is limited by spell slots and available preparations. However, this wizard has a few tricks that can extend the lifespan of their spellcasting considerably. In combat, they are jsut as good as any cleric in healing and can take it a step further by empwoering any cure wands in their possession to make them even more effective without blowing spell slots.


2. Elven Abjurer3/Master Specialist10/Iinitiate of the Seven Fold Veil 4

Forbidden Schools Enchantment, Necromancy

1.Spell Focus (Abjuration)
3.Skill Focus (Spell Craft)
6. Imp. Counterspell
9.Elven Spell Lore (any decent spell for a uncommon energy type)
12.Extraordinary Spell Aim
15. Magic Disruption

Harm Prevention:IF an opponent cannot cast spells, reach you without debilitatign effects, cannot maintain spells, hit you or allies with spells then they cannot harm you. This abjurer in particular can throw up various walls, wards and other hindering effects that prevent foes from getting past you . On top fo this you can buff allies and increase their defenses impressively.

Enemy Elimination: This is perhaps the weaekst point of this character as theres little you can do your allies can't d better in this role. Still, if one is eliminated you can fill the role ina pinch as you can use any scrolls, wands, they have crafted as well. Plus with the Spellbook sharing trick you can easily cast most anythign they can.

Recovery: the abjuraiton school has a number of excellent recovery spells with which a character can use to prevent disasters from occuring, including Dispel Magic, Remove Curse, Break Enchantment and others since you will be casting many of these at higher caster levels then msot you can recover msot thigns with surprising ease.

3. Gnome Illusionist 3/Master Specialist 10/Illusionist4

Forbidden: Enchantment, Divination

1.Spell Focus (Illusion)
3. Extend Spell
6. Metamagic Spell Trigger
9. Quicken Spell
12. Dazzling Illusion
15. Arcane Disciple (Healing)
15b. Persistent Spell

Harm Prevention:Where the Abjurer can put up walsl adn get rid of nasty spell effects, and the enchanter can turnsfriends into enemies you can stop enemies dead in their tracks and make them swing ro run away from your illusions.

Enemy Elimination: There's little in the way of elimination for this character as much of what you'll eb able to do ca't outright kill an opponent or hidner him in some permanent fashion. Rather, you're forced to outwit opponents and force them into situation that benefit your other allies capabilities. However, with Spellbook sharing you can easily take some spells to go toward this role and finish thigns up in a pinch.

Recovery: Like the enchanter this gnome has access to the healing sells they can cast, plus, with metamagic spell trigger and quicken spell you can run around and toss heals about with impunity as you continue tossing illusion spells at your foes.


4. Dwarf Conjurer 3/Master Specialist 10/Conjurer4

1. Spell Focus Conjuration
3. Augment Summoning
6. Quicken spell
9. Metamagic Spell Trigger
12. Energy Substituion (Sonic)
15. Spell-Linked Familiar
15b. Craft Wand

Harm Prevention: If theyre hitting soemthign other then the aprty theyre not hitting you, be it a wall of little criters or a wall of solid rock.

Enemy Elimination: Conjuration spells are a fantastic way to eliminate enemies, they almost universally ignore spell resistance and many have no saves. This particular conjurer can toss several damaging spells a round between quickened spells, master specialist and his familiar as your allies and summoned minions funnel your foes into nice little fences where you can blast them into oblivion

Recovery: This particular wizard is also perhaps the strongest recovery specialist. How? Easy, Gate or Bind soemthing that can get what you need


Tricks

Spell Book sharing: Every level a wizard can scribe two spells into their spellbook. Now, take that and multiply it by 4. Thats right, barring forbidden schools a wizard in this party will get access to 8 spells a level through the simple act of sharing spells with hsi comrades meaning that despite speicializations there will always be SOMEONE who can cast what the party needs.

Battlefield Control: The laws of physics are the parties to bend upon their whim, the problem with one evil wizard is hes jsut ONE wizard he can only do so much in a round. In this group there are so many spells that can be brought to bear controlling enemy movement is as easy as herding peasants and just about as fun. Shaping the terrain the way you want and forcing the enemy to think the way you want is the wet dream of every military commander of every nation on this earth. These wizards excel at it and then some.

Sheer Versatility: The questio for thie party is not what it can do but what it can't do. Can this aprty tank? Yes. Can this party heal? Yes. can this party wipe the floor with enemies? Most definitely. Intelligently played only a group of similiar full casters stands a chance.

Overlapping Specialists: each one of these wizards are specialists in their given field but they are not the only ones that can cast the spells they can throw about nor are they the only oens that will. you can remove the Abjuration specialist but you wont remove abjuration spells. Likewise simply because you're immune to mind affecting spells does nto save you from the enchanter and high spell resistance does nothign against their conjuration spells.

Transmutation/Conjuraiton for everyone!:We can all cast polymorph, we can all cast Mass Fly, Haste, Gate, Plane Shift, Teleport, Dimension Door, etc. etc. The msot pweorful schools are ours.



Analysis:

So, would anyone ply this party? Probably not. But, they do fill their respective roles very well and theres enough overlap that they can switch things up if necessary. This is something I can do with Artificers, Druids, Clerics, every class that is considered overpowered can be taken and done the same way.