Author Topic: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar  (Read 7029 times)

Offline Cagemarrow

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Are there any ways to improve the over all caster level of a beguiler to get access to the higher level Improved Familiar's in E6? We've got a player in our game who would like to get a Mephit or Imp for his NE Beguiler. I haven't been able to find anything that will do what he wants other than maybe getting reserve feats for all of his available schools which would up him by 1, but that is a tenuous reading of the rules.

He's currently level 5 in straight Beguiler

Offline Hallack

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2012, 09:56:39 AM »
In the original E6 stuff with E6 develped Feats I believe there was one that raised Caster level by 1. 

But largely this is going to be a matter of what Feats your DM allows and how he interprets their application because many feats and reserve feats can boost caster levels or certain schools of magic.  If DM allows those narrow ranges of increased CL to qualify then eureka.  If not, I'm not sure off the top of my head. 


Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2012, 09:59:50 AM »
He'll eventually want an orange ioun stone for +1 to caster level, but at 30k it'll likely be a ways off.

Offline Cagemarrow

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2012, 12:11:38 PM »
Well our DM has ruled that a CL increase would qualify from reserve feats, if he can get them for All Schools of magic that he can cast. I was unaware that there was a capstone feat that increased CL, that may be enough on its own. Any idea what it's called?

I don't think the Ioun stone will be available. As a party we're a bit behind wealth by level and I doubt that will change anytime soon. Between 6 of us we've got 4 suits of +1 armor and one +1 weapon of a type that no one uses. Haven't had anywhere to sell or trade it yet and I doubt any of us have more than 400 gp cash.

This hasn't been a big hindrance yet though thankfully. It's a fairly low power game based in Ancient Greece. Effectively a Hercules the Legendary Journeys / Xena game.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2012, 12:15:05 PM by Cagemarrow »

Offline Hallack

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2012, 12:00:55 PM »
Outside Reserve feats I was mistaken in there being an E6 feat to increase CL.

In an E6 my friends played we created a capstone feat for some classes that did increase CL by +1.

Reserve Feats are probably your best best, plus they are not bad in E6 anyways.

Offline NiteCyper

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2012, 06:16:27 PM »
The "Improved Familiar [General]" feat isn't attainable in E6 without serious cheese. The only thing that I could find that could truly, by-the-RAW work is Polymorph/Shapechange to access a higher arcane spellcasting level. The two spells are Sor/Wiz 4 and Animal 9, Drd 9, Sor/Wiz 9 respectively. I've read the SRD entry on Familiars and Improved Familiar but am unable to get a solid ruling on what occurs if Improved Familiar is no longer qualified for. In both good and bad ways, depending on the generosity of the judge, rules on Familiars there are implied.


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« Last Edit: July 14, 2012, 08:01:36 PM by NiteCyper »
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Offline Halinn

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 06:37:20 PM »
Improved Familiar is plenty easy to get, but the extra CL for the level 7 familiars is kind of difficult.

Offline awaken_D_M_golem

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2012, 07:13:32 PM »
Psi race or [host] feat
Practiced Manifester feat
a Psiotheurgist feat from Dr#349
one pre-req feat for psiotheurgist
... would get 6 MLs added to CLs
but just in one discipline/school combo
and further minor restrictions.
Your codpiece is a mimic.

Offline Maat Mons

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2012, 08:19:58 PM »
The draconic power feat (Races of the Dragon) gives you +1 caster level.  As a non-sorcerer, you'd have to take the dragontouched feat (Dragon Magic).  Including draconic heritage, that's three feats before improved familiar.  On the plus side, if you choose chaos dragon for your heritage, you get +1 to the save DC of all your compulsion spells and a +2 bonus to your saves against compulsion effects. 

Offline NiteCyper

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2012, 08:50:43 PM »
The draconic power feat (Races of the Dragon) gives you +1 caster level.  As a non-sorcerer, you'd have to take the dragontouched feat (Dragon Magic).  Including draconic heritage, that's three feats before improved familiar.  On the plus side, if you choose chaos dragon for your heritage, you get +1 to the save DC of all your compulsion spells and a +2 bonus to your saves against compulsion effects.

The second prerequisite of the "Draconic Power [Draconic]" feat (Races of the Dragon, page 104) explicitly states "sorcerer level 1st." How do you come to imply that the "Dragontouched" feat (Dragon Magic, page 18-19) fulfills that prerequisite alone? Nevermind, it's stated explicitly as a benefit of Dragontouched.

I'd like it to be noted that the Draconic Power caster level increase is up for debate in terms of whether its application is universal, or restricted  to "arcane spells with the descriptor or subschool associated with your draconic heritage." The determinant is the comma after the caster level increase clause.

Quote from: The "Draconic Power" feat, Races of the Dragon, page 104
DRACONIC POWER [DRACONIC]
You have greater power when manipulating the energies of your heritage.
Prerequisites: Draconic Heritage, sorcerer level 1st.
Benefit: Your caster level increases by one, and you add 1 to the save DC of all arcane spells with the descriptor or subschool associated with your draconic heritage.
Special: This feat works in conjunction with the Energy Substitution feat (Complete Arcane, page 79) as long as the substituted energy matches the energy type associated with your draconic heritage.

Fun fact: "At 1st level, you gain Dragontouched (see page 18) as a bonus feat." (the "Dragonfire Adept" standard class, Class Features, Dragon Magic, page 26)
« Last Edit: July 13, 2012, 08:34:44 AM by NiteCyper »
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Offline Cagemarrow

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #10 on: July 13, 2012, 06:50:06 AM »
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Too bad he's not a Sorcerer or I'd recommend the Draconic Heritage route as that seems to be the most fitting for his character as a greedy, vain, power hungry manipulator. Does the Dragon Touched feat allow for taking Draconic Power as a non-sorcerer? I don't have my books available to look through currently. It's E6 so number of feats really isn't that big of a deal.

We'll have to discuss with the DM what options are available.

Offline NiteCyper

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #11 on: July 13, 2012, 08:30:28 AM »
Does the Dragon Touched feat allow for taking Draconic Power as a non-sorcerer?
The second prerequisite of the "Draconic Power [Draconic]" feat (Races of the Dragon, page 104) explicitly states "sorcerer level 1st." The "Dragontouched" feat (Dragon Magic, page 18-19) fulfills that prerequisite alone. It's stated explicitly as a benefit of Dragontouched.

Quote from: Dragontouched, Dragon Magic, page 19
You can select draconic feats as if you were a sorcerer of your character level.

Show us on the effigy where the dragon touched you. That's right, la même personne l'a dit deux fois.
« Last Edit: July 18, 2012, 04:15:57 AM by NiteCyper »
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Offline Cagemarrow

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Re: [E6] Beguiler - how to increase Caster Level for Improved Familiar
« Reply #12 on: July 13, 2012, 08:50:03 AM »
Excellent. I think I'm going to recommend that path over the reserve feats then as it seems to be more clear cut by the rules and fits his character better.