I'm looking to build a Jade Phoenix Mage. I have LA Buyoff so I'm probably going to take a template or something just to make it more challenging for me at low levels (you know like Phrenic or Half Dragon because D&D too easy now).
I'm looking at a +17 BAB (Fractional Variant used), 15 IL, 9th level spells here.
Build
Crusader 1/Diviner 3/Master Specialist 3/Abjurant Champion 3/Jade Phoenix Mage 10
Level 1) Crusader (Extra Granted Maneuver, Stone Power)
Level 2) Diviner (Focused Specialist Variant, Fighter Feat Variant, Enhanced Awareness Variant) (Improved Sunder)
Level 3) Diviner (Spell Focus: Divination)
Level 4) Diviner
Level 5) Master Specialist (Skill Focus: Spellcraft)
Level 6) Master Specialist (Practiced Spellcaster)
Level 7) Jade Phoenix Mage
Level 8) Jade Phoenix Mage
Level 9) Jade Phoenix Mage (Arcane Strike)
Level 10) Abjurant Champion
Level 11) Abjurant Champion
Level 12) Abjurant Champion (Minor Shapeshift)
Level 13) Master Specialist (Greater Spell Focus: Divination)
Level 14) Jade Phoenix Mage
Level 15) Jade Phoenix Mage (Combat Brute)
Level 16) Jade Phoenix Mage
Level 17) Jade Phoenix Mage
Level 18) Jade Phoenix Mage (????)
Level 19) Jade Phoenix Mage
Level 20) Jade Phoenix Mage
Maneuvers
Level 1: Crusader's Strike, Stone Bones, Charging Minotaur, Douse the Flames, Vanguard Strike, Leading the Charge
Level 7: Distracting Ember or whatever
Level 9: Flashing Sun
Level 15: Leaping Flame
Level 17: Rallying Strike, Thicket of Blades
Level 19: Shield Counter
My idea is that I have a lot of divination spells that I can just sack for arcane strike and/or arcane wrath. Since it's a divination focused specialist I only lose two non-important schools keeping a wizards versatility (I would give up evocation and enchantment). At low levels I use stone power to stay tanky and use it to meet the prerequisites for Combat Brute which I'll power later on by casting Bite of the X to get power attack for real. On the round that I use Combat Brute I can Flashing Sun for an extra attack, arcane strike/arcane wrath. More damage, more accuracy, sacking divination spells.
Only three levels of Abjurant champion as I can't see myself ever using the fourth level ability (it's not as strong as JPM and I won't have the swift actions to use it).
I feel like if combat calls for me to be tanky I have Stone Power and Minor Shapeshift, if I need to be a wizard I have every important school open to me, if I need to wade in I can charge and then sack all my divination spells.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
I don't have pounce so if I got Shock Trooper then it would just be one swing. My BAB is pretty high and I can buff my attack bonus with arcane strike and arcane wrath. Shock Trooper is about making sure your one hit, hits. Accuracy is important obviously. But since I can cover my penalties by sacking spells I'm more interested in doing damage. Hence, Combat Brute.
After I charge, on round two, I can use Combat Brute to full attack and use the maneuver Flashing Sun to get one extra attack (not mentioning haste but I'll probably be hasted so two extra attacks). All of these attacks would be -X to hit +3X to damage from combat brute. Not counting whatever spells I sack for arcane strike and arcane wrath.
Say I sacrifice two 4th level spells. I'd be getting +8 to hit, +4d4 and +4d10 points of damage on all my attacks for that round and then +3X damage on each swing.
I originally started with Wu Jen for the obvious reasons. But honestly at the end of the day a Diviner is just going to have more options and more versatility. We play combat heavy and role playing heavy and I honestly don't like what I come up with when thinking about role playing a Wu Jen. Basically from both a crunch and fluff stance, I like Diviner better.
When I read guides everyone tells me that the Setting Sun maneuvers suck, but I found myself after reviewing my options, dipping three maneuvers deep in that school. The Devoted Spirit maneuvers just aren't as useful. Anyone else find that as well? Does anyone else think I should do something different with my feats?
