Min/Max Boards

So a pretty typical discussion in my small 3.5 group is my bend for LN-LE PC's. I bend for these alignments and almost always build a fresh PC into LN unless there is some sort of alignment issue. Today at our monthly meet up, we we were discussing back up PC's (our DM doesn't coddle us at all, he will kill one of us in a moment's notice if we mess around or if it serves his plot lines). So I was going over an Artificer build I just finished (3+ weeks of work) and I felt it was suitable for a backup if/when my current PC bites it (FTR2/FACT8/IM3).

So, the idea struck me to think out a second backup, more so as a thought exercise in regards to maximizing a PC into a radiant exemplar of goodness. I have a bend towards Martial ability, but past that the blinders are off, show me what you got!

oh, and thanks.

Dedicated 3.5 player. I lurk mostly, but I chime in on occasion.

So my DM, whom I have been playing DnD with since I was a preteen has recently gotten interest going about getting back into the DM chair and running a realms campaign. Last time we played was in the middle of 2e and while myself and the rest of the players have shifted into a 3.5 mindset, our DM is very new to 3.5. We have been playing for about a year, but we skip a lot of the finer points of 3.5. To be fair he is a great DM with deep story lines and plots inside of plots mixed with an almost total lack of empathy for the players. Those who have come to play in his adventures quickly become smart or they die off rather quickly.

anyway, i digress.

I set up a day to get the finer points of 3.5 more ingrained into his playstyle. I look to you all for insight on what to cover. Off the top of my head I will be covering:

- Critical weapon effects and threatening a critical
- Movement tricks on a grid (we play with minis on a grid map)
- Skills and DC checks in general
- Prestige classes and their difference from kits
- Racial aspects and LA Buyoff
- Dipping into classes
- Magic Resistance
- Saving Throws

So if anyone wants to add to the list I would appreciate it.

Lastly, please do not suggest going back to 2e or learning a new edition. All of the players are steeped in 3.5, we just want to get our DM there as well.

I am joining a specialized campaign based int he Renaissance age. Plagues, witches and the like, and I want to run THE Paladin. I get one alignment deviation, so I am going with LN. We cannot have any spellcasting levels (arcane or divine) since we will be pursuing those types. Looking for some input on builds. 10th level to start.

Thoughts?

I tend to waste feats. I am not an optimizer by any means but I would like to make better use of my feats. I am starting a new campaign in the coming months and I will be playing a Druid. I will begin at 4th level and I am human, giving me three feats. I really like the summoning aspect of being a druid early game while I build up my wild shape abilities and spell casting ability. So I have come to an issue, as I do not want to take the normal routes to alleviate the need for Spell Focus to gain augmented summoning. I feel that one of the greatest issues with SNA is the short duration, so I was looking at the Ashbound feat to give me some more turns. I sort have two directions I could take for my progression, and need help choosing the better option.

Progression A:

Free (Human) - Spell Focus - Conjuration
1st level feat - Augmented Summoning
3rd level feat - Green bound Summoning
6th level feat - Natural Spell

I feel like this progression gives me more powerful summons that last for four rounds. I have to note that my party is not very melee heavy, so having additional chaff to block up enemies would be nice.

Progression B:

Free (Human) - Green bound Summoning
1st level feat - Ashbound
3rd level feat - ? ? ? ? ?
6th level feat - Natural Spell

I feel that this progression gives me slightly less hardier summons but with a greater attack potential and lasting twice as long as the first progression. I also have access to an additional feat.

Thoughts?

So I am a casual DM for a rather large group (7 PCs currently). I am more of a stream of consciousness DM, rather being a PC but this group lacks central leadership for a DM so I took the reigns. So currently I have a group that looks like this:

Elf Wizard lvl 7
Human Ranger (shooty) lvl 7
Human Monk lvl 8
Human Rogue lvl 7
Dwarf fighter Lvl 7
Dwarf Berserker lvl 7
Minotaur cleric lvl 7

currently i have a few ideas including minions that serve Orcus. I am a huge planescape fan from 2e and like to incorperate lots of plane issues into my stories. The party is in a town called Tinkerton, run mainly by tinker gnomes and is a hub for blackpowder technology. I am just looking for some plot lines and hooks that could include the planes, Orcus (vs Graz'zt?) their minions and such.

thoughts?